Fritz Kriesler Mitchell

FRITZ KRIESLER MITCHELL, 89 Certified Public Accountant LAKELAND - Fritz Kriesler Mitchell, age 89, passed away on January 3, 2015, from natural causes. He was born on February 17, 1925, to the late Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Waldo Emerson Mitchell in Tifton, Georgia. He graduated from Tift High School in 1942 and attended the University of Arkansas for a year. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served until the end of World War II in March, 1945. Mr. Mitchell returned to Florida, entered the University of Florida and graduated in 1949. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Fraternity and played the clarinet in the University of Florida Marching Band. His family was most interested in music and he was taught to play the clarinet and the violin at an early age. For many years his family and relatives played music for the silent movies. After graduation, Mr. Mitchell went to work in Jacksonville for Milligan and Burke, a Certified Public Accounting firm. In 1951, he married Jeanne Bonnet of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. They were married for 39 years before her death in 1990. In 1959, the Milligan and Burke firm opened an office in Lakeland, Florida, and Mr. Mitchell. was made its Manager. The firm merged with Arthur Young in 1969, then with Ernst and Ernst in 1971. This firm later became Ernst and Young and Mr. Mitchell served as a partner with Ernst and Young until his retirement in 1985. He was proud of the fact that he began his career in 1949 and remained with his original firm for his entire 36 year career. Blessed with excellent health, Mr. Mitchell never missed a day of work. As a University of Florida alumnus, he was devoted to the Florida Gators. He purchased his first season tickets in 1951 and continued to buy them to date, 63 years. For many of those years, he served as the official driver of 'The Gator Gentlemen of Lakeland'. The group consisted of Mr. Thomas Bryant, General David Hauseman, Mr. Walter McNeill and Mr. Jimmy Norton. At age 14, Mr. Mitchell was introduced to the game of golf by his father. It immediately became his sport. He and his friends camped out at the Tifton, Georgia golf course so they could begin playing golf at daylight and end their day as the sun went down. Years later, he began playing golf at the Cleveland Heights Golf Club and his golf group originated at that time. They were together for 35 years. When Lone Palm Golf Club was built, the group joined and continued playing there until members passed away or became unable to play. Mr. Mitchell continued his play at Lone Palm and also at the Sapphire National Golf Course, Cashiers, North Carolina, where he had a hole-in-one in 2009 at the age of 84. He was still playing until age 89. Mr. Mitchell was the President of the Polk County Chapter of the Florida Institute of Accountants, a member of the Florida Institute of CPAs, and a 60- year member of the American Institute of CPAs. He was a charter member of the Lakeland South Rotary Club. He also was President of the Polk County University of Florida Alumni Association. He was devoted to his church, St. David's Episcopal Church and seldom missed a service. He served on the vestry several times and was responsible for planting the oak trees surrounding the church property. Mr. Mitchell is survived by his wife of 22 years, Mary Jane Mitchell; son, Stewart Bonnet Mitchell (Deborah); grandson, Cameron Bonnet Mitchell; granddaughter, Paige Mitchell Martin (Sam); brother, Franz Mitchell (Martha Lee) and a number of nieces and nephews. He is also survived by two stepsons, James Woodson Lowe and Lawrence Sherman Lowe III, and three step-grandsons, Lawrence Sherman Lowe IV, James Garrison Lowe and Davis Jackson Lowe. A celebration of the life of Mr. Mitchell will be held at 3:00 PM on January 8 at the First Presbyterian Church, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, Florida. Following the service, there will be a time of remembrance and fellowship in the church Welcome Center. Those wishing to do so may make a memorial gift to the Peace River Center, 3020 South Florida Ave., Suite 105, Lakeland, Florida; to the Florida Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 8190, Lakeland, Florida, 33802; to the First Presbyterian Church, 175 Lake Hollingsworth, FL, 33801.

Fritz Kriesler Mitchell

February 17, 1925 - January 3, 2015