Nicholas J. Mitchell, 74, of Plainfield, a retired ironworker who never missed a day of work in nearly five decades on the job, died Tuesday, Oct. 3, in Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Born in Chicago, Mr. Mitchell was a structural ironworker for 48 years with Local 1. He worked for the City of Chicago prior to his retirement in 1993 from the Chicago Transit Authority, where he was employed as a foreman for 34 years. He was a teenager when he landed his first job with the City of Chicago. “For some reason he had always wanted to be an ironworker,” said his daughter Barbie. “He really loved his work.” An extremely healthy man during most of his life, Mr. Mitchell is credited for having never missed a day of work. “He had a work ethic nobody could beat,” said his daughter. “A few years ago, during a snow storm when we could hardly get out of our driveway, he plowed the whole street just to get to work.” Mr. Mitchell was overwhelmed at his retirement party by the large turnout and outpouring of affection. “He was someone everybody loved,” said his daughter. “He had a way of making everyone feel good.” Mr. Mitchell was also an avid craftsman. Other survivors include his wife, Barbara; sons Keith, Kevin and Craig; daughters Rene Roulo and Lisa Laczynski; brothers George, Peter and Sam; and eight grandchildren. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday in Overman-Jones Funeral Home, 309 Joliet Rd., Plainfield.
