Celebrating the Life of
Willie Mitchell
April 28, 1958 — June 30, 2024
Obituary
Welcome friends and colleagues to this memorial page honoring the life of Willie L. Mitchell. This page was created and is being managed by friends and is not affiliated with his family. In lieu of a traditional obituary, please share your condolences, memories, photos, and videos on this page as a tribute to his life. Come back periodically, to share more memories as you think of them.
While we are not aware of any particular charities that Willie may have supported, we do know that he was an avid reader. For those who are looking to make a contribution in his honor, the link to the Chicago Public Library Foundation is included on this page. We are not affiliated with the organization and any contribution is strictly voluntary.
Please feel free to share the link to this Memorial Page with those whose lives Willie may have touched and would like to share a memory. Thank you!
Memories and Condolences
Please share a photo or video, or post a heartfelt condolence to the family.
Willie could talk for seemingly hours about a "spot" on a wall. He'd try to incite a heated discussion with you about that "spot" if you'd allow him to. Then he'd laugh about his success in doing so... while you were upset perhaps angry at yourself for allowing it to happen! I miss his smile and laughter! Rest in heaven Willie...
Willie Mitchell was an amazing person. He was kind, funny, and open. I worked with him in the Core Lab for over 20 years. If I ever needed anything he was always there. Although I am heartbroken with his loss, I think about all the great times we had having breakfast after work or ribbing each other in the lab. He will always be a bright light in my life, and I will truly miss him.
Willie, such a shy, quiet man of few words… I met him when I first started in blood gas 23 years ago. He filled in overtime with me on nights- including some new years eve’s that we nearly missed midnight talking. As one of my favorite characters of NMH, I’ll miss him. There’s no one else like him! -Jeanine Ps- I know I’ve got an old photo of him somewhere- I’ll try and find it to post later!
Willie was something else. He was always there with advice, consolation, gift or card or in my case a ride. We had worked all night and in the morning as we got off there was a snowstorm. My husband was my ride and he was home with my newborn. Willie decided he'd take me home so my hubby and baby wouldn't have to face the snow. Now this was not a small feat as I lived Northwest and Willie lived South and it was a SNOWSTORM. Willie played it down as no big deal. Forever grateful and thankful to call him a friend.
Last time that I ran into Willie when he was going into work! We met at the Blood Gas Lab, at the old Olsen Lab, working on nights together. I can hear his voice, whether on his high horse or sharing something that had happened to him. He prided himself on working out to keep in shape and always cajoled with his other hospital buddies. We will miss you dear Willie.
The 7th floor Olson Pavillion Blood Gas Laboratory is where Willie and I met. I'd worked in the lab there 2 years before he was hired. Like myself he was hired for midnights. Most times we worked well together. BUT there'd be sometimes, when an employee passing the receiving window would ask if we were paid a "battle pay bonus" when we both were scheduled. Willie you'll truly be missed🙏🏾
We were buddies. I remember once he had a cold, and I took him a Sobakawa buckwheat pillow coupled with a batch of my homemade chicken soup.
In this photo, Willie was enjoying a meal with friends
Willie was a dear friend of our family. My fondest memory of him was that he always remembered to send cards for birthdays and Christmas to everyone. He was a lover of books and on many occasions bought us books as gifts. During his visits, Willie would talk for many hours about books that he'd read or movies that he'd seen. He made a lasting impression and will be missed.
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