MITCHELL, Robert Wanless

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Wednesday, August 01, 2012 Robert Wanless Mitchell went home to be with our Lord on July 23. Bob was born in Cresco, Iowa, on Sept. 5, 1920 where he received his elementary and high school education, graduating in 1939. He worked in a men’s clothing store until his military service. He proudly and bravely served his country in World War II as a member of Merrill’s Marauders from January 1942 until October 1945. The 3000-member all-volunteer group, who fought in the China, Burma, India theatre of the war, were the predecessors of modern-day Rangers. In November 1944 he married Stella Olson of Decorah, Iowa, and after his military discharge he began a career as a tree surgeon. In 1955 they moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., to get away from the smog. He began his own tree business under the name Robert Mitchell Tree Surgeon, specializing in ornamental pruning. In 1983, Bob and Stella accepted a position at the Clark Estate in Santa Barbara, a twenty-acre private property. Bob is survived by his wife Stella of nearly 68 years, daughters Jackie (Larry) Cavaletto, Terry (Dave) Krautkremer, Sonda (Ken) Carwile, his six grandchildren Jon Cavaletto, Michael (Ruth) Cavaletto, Nicole (Jeff) Barnett, Jacob May, Graham Robertson, Keagan Carwile, and 13 great-grandchildren Taylor, Carson, Rachel, and Julia Cavaletto, Jacob and Sierra Cavaletto, Joshua, Emily and Justin Barnett, Baylee, Ruby, Lucy and Madison May. A memorial service with military honors will be held Sunday (Aug. 5) at 1 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 450 Rose Lane in Wickenburg. Bob was a faithful and loving husband, father and grandfather, a war hero... and always our hero!