Mitchel Leroy Cates age 58, of Missouri Valley, Iowa passed away on Monday, October 16, 2017 at Community Memorial Hospital in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Mitchel Leroy Cates was born December 24, 1958 at the Missouri Valley hospital. He was brought home to California Junction, where he would later go on to live happily with his wife and daughter for many years. He attended Missouri Valley Public Schools, where he graduated class of 1977 and was named Class President. He earned an Associate’s degree at Iowa Western Community College and a Bachelor’s at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He worked at Jack’s Conoco, where he met his future wife Pamela (Bierwirth) Cates. He had a long career in the IT field, holding positions with ACI, First Data, U.S. Software, and Prime Therapeutics.
He loved motorcycle riding, fishing, driving around the Loess Hills, reading the newspaper, eating at Dairy Den, listening to both kinds of music (country and western), and spending time with his family. He attended the Missouri Valley Christian Church and helped to run the slides for services. He was known to all as good-natured, friendly, a wonderful listener, hard-working, fiercely loyal, loving, and amazingly funny. He cared deeply for those close to him and did everything possible to make sure they were taken care of.
He is loved by his family, who miss him with all our hearts.
He is preceded in death by his father Tom Cates and brother Daniel Cates.
He is survived by his wife Pamela Cates, daughter Alyssa Cates, mother Anita Mae Cates, sister Rhonda Kouma and husband Lenny Kouma, sister Tami Cates and special friend Chad Hopkins, nieces and nephews Ashley Cates, Coty Cates, Shyann Cates, Justin Dems, Daisha Roberts, Aubrey Bierwirth, Ashley Bierwirth, Taylor Herman, Paige Herman, Ryan Bierwirth, Nadiah Bierwirth, Yasmeen Bierwirth, Noah Bierwirth, sister-and-brother in laws Matthew Bierwirth and special friend Nan Colwell, Sandra Bierwirth and Robert Herman, John and Betty (Vanek) Bierwirth, and many friends, family members, and cousins.
Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Hennessey Funeral Home in Missouri Valley, Iowa.
The family would like to invite everyone to a time of lunch and fellowship at the Christian Fellowship Center after the committal service at the cemetery.
In Loving Memory of
Mitchel L. Cates
Born
December 24, 1958 Missouri Valley, Iowa
Entered Into Rest
October 16, 2017 Missouri Valley, Iowa
Memorial Services
10:00 a.m. Monday, October 23, 2017
Christian Church
Missouri Valley, Iowa
Officiating Pastor Ron Wymer
Musical Selections
“Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone” “Ancient Words”
“Go Rest High On That Mountain”
Honorary Casket Bearers
Ashley Cates Coty Cates
Shyann Cates Justin Dems
Daisha Roberts Aubrey Bierwirth
Ashley Bierwirth Taylor Herman
Paige Herman Ryan Bierwirth
Nadiah Bierwirth Yasmeen Bierwirth
Noah Bierwirth
Final Resting Place
Branson Cemetery
Loveland, Iowa
10 Comments
We knew Mitch through our nephew, and many many years ago Mitch lived with us for a short time on this side of the state. He was such a great guy…funny, personable, and smart. It was fate that we got to visit with Mitch last year when we were in Missouri Valley. He will be missed by so many. Our deepest sympathies go out to Mitch’s family.
Dave and Cindy Smallwood
Fort Madison, IA
This was a shock. I have a great deal of respect for Mitch. We was an unassuming, smart and gracious man. I will miss the mushroom season reports. Maybe this season he will send me a sign from above. Peace be with Mitch and his family.
My heartfelt condolences to Mitch’s family, I was blessed to know him. The world will miss Mitch.
So very sorry for the loss of Mitch..I went to school with his sister Rhonda…..RIP.May God be with you all..
We send our love and prayers tie Pam and family as we mourn the loss of our friend. He will certainly be missed.
So glad we got to meet Mitch last year. He was so patient with Clyde when Clyde had the shingles and was on his pain meds. We enjoyed your visit here in Florida with us and we appreciated Mitch with his sweet, quiet spirit. Know we’ll meet again in glory with the Lord.
Our Condolences to family and friends.
Remembering Mitch from high school how I looked up to him as a scholar and also remember him as the toughest football player on the field too. He carried more text books than anyone and he was the dirtiest after each football game. Obviously he put 110% in everything he did then and I’m sure he did the same after high school.
Sending our love and prayers to Pam and the family. Such a shock to hear this sad news. He will be missed by all those who knew him. We are very grateful that we got to spend time with Mitch and Pam when they came to Georgia. It was a fun time in Savannah and Tybee Island that we will always treasure. Heaven has gained an angel….
Short and Fred
Evans, GA
I wish I could have seen more of him. A person one could model themselves after. Scattered memories of time together as children but all happy, as, his laugh made you feel. Praying for Pam and Alyssa.
Frank
Canton, GA
I was fortunate to work with Mitch for many years, he was in the Omaha office I was in Eagan. Mitch was intelligent, hard working and always willing to share knowledge, he was kind and had a wonderful sense of humor. My deepest sympathy to all of his family, the world lost a good man.
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