Randall “Randy” Dean Mitchell

Randall “Randy” Dean Mitchell, 60, of Iowa Falls, passed away on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Funeral services for Randy will take place 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 19 at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home, 1209 Iowa Ave. West, in Marshalltown. He will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery. A visitation will be held in the hour prior to the service, beginning at 10 a.m. For questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Randy was an avid outdoorsman and earned a Bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in Fish and Wildlife Biology. He spent much of his career working as a conservation specialist for three different counties in Iowa, most recently Keokuk. During these times his home was known to be a place of rehabilitation for countless wild birds and animals as Randy sought to restore them to health. For the last 20 years, Randy owned and operated Mitchell Custom Construction in Iowa Falls, Iowa, where he specialized in remodeling projects, the quality of which earned him local acclaim.

Randy had a knack for mixing his love of hunting, fishing, and especially trapping with his passion for travel. His travels led him on many adventures around the Midwest, but also through Maine, Alaska, British Columbia, and many other areas he appreciated for their beauty and solitude. He kept careful records of his travels and loved being able to share his experiences with family and friends. As part of this passion, he was an active member of the Iowa Trappers Association where he served as the vice president, the National Trappers Association, Fur Bearers Unlimited and Pheasants Forever.

Regardless of the destination, his Harley-Davidson motorcycle was his favorite way to get there. Randy loved the freedom his bike provided and how it allowed him to experience nature. He took great pride in his bike and painstakingly upgraded and maintained it to his own high standards. He enjoyed friendship with other biking enthusiasts through membership in the Harley Owner’s Group (HOGS) Mason City, the National Harley Owner’s Group, and A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) of Iowa. His friends in these groups lovingly gave him the name “Maps” for his ability to navigate and document his travels.

Randy was a father of two children, Brad Mitchell of Dubuque, Iowa, and Hannah Manning of Sycamore, Ill. He also recently became a grandfather of Willow Mae Manning with whom he greatly enjoyed spending time with. As a son, Randy was a strong support for his mother, Roberta “Bobbie” Mitchell of Marshalltown, Iowa, and valued spending time with her. Randy loved his fiancée of one year, Julie Buhmeyer of Muscatine, Iowa; they spent their time together travelling on bikes. Randy is also survived by his siblings Ron Mitchell, Raeann Hansen and Robin (Carl) Follmer. He was preceded in death by his father, Roger Earl Mitchell; his maternal grandparents, Wendell and Doris Morris; and his maternal uncle James (Jim) Morris.