Josie was born on May 8, 1938 in Freeport, IL, the daughter of John and Effie Dietmeier Heitz. She married Raymond Ward Mitchell, Sr. on March 4, 1965 and he preceded her in death on October 11, 2001. Josie worked in nursing at St. Joes and Highland Hospitals in Belvidere. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Belvidere and had a passion for bowling and shopping.
Josie is survived by her sons: Raymond W. Mitchell, Jr. and wife Sharon and Rondel F. Mitchell and wife Rebecca; grandchildren Aaron and Alex Mitchell, Regan and Brynn Mitchell; sister Nancy DeMichele and husband Al of Freeport; brother John Heitz of Freeport.
Josie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, six sisters and four brothers.
Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association.
A service to celebrate Josie’s life will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday March 2, 2014 at Sunset Funeral Home 8800 N. Alpine Road in Machesney Park. Visitation for Josie will be from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral Home. Burial will be private.
