- Mitchell M. Murch, 86, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014.
He was the beloved husband for 64 blessed years to Elaine Ing Murch; dearest father of Barbara (Stuart) Elmore, Melissa (George) Kriegshauser, Tim (Becky), Betsy (Jeff) Osterloh and Mitchell M. (the late Cathy) Murch II; dear papa to Andrew (Dr. Morgan) and Patrick Elmore, Kelly (Dr. Rajiv) Patel, George W. (Lindsey) Kriegshauser, Connor, Max and Colle Murch, Parker and Clayton Osterloh, and the late Mitchell M. III and Mary Claire Murch; dear great-papa to Devan and Isaac Patel, and George L. Kriegshauser; our dear uncle, cousin and friend to many.
Mitch was a one-in-a-million type of guy who left a positive impression on every person or endeavor he ever touched. Mitch’s life was a wild ride, and while not easy, he made it fun. Along the way, he amassed thousands of friends and admirers.
Mitch poured his love, energy and passion into the businesses he created, trade organizations that he co-founded, Mizzou Alumni, The Buddy Fund, The Guadalupe Center and dozens of additional organizations, boards of directors and philanthropies that he was very proud to help.
Becoming a lifelong entrepreneur out of necessity following his mother’s death when he was 12, Mitch eventually became a pioneer in the building services contracting industry and became one of the world’s most successful janitors.
A proud Kappa Sigma member and former president of District 17, Mitch was awarded a faculty-alumni award in 1968, the 1976 Greek Week Alumni Award and the Distinguished Service Award and was president of the St. Louis alumni chapter. An added result of Mitch’s dedication to the university is that all five of his children and almost all of his grandchildren are now proud alumni.
Mitch furthered his impact on Columbia by building what the local press would eventually name “Mitch Murch’s Financially Troubled Ice Chalet” in the midst of an energy crisis and ensuing economic downturn. The building hosted the Mizzou Hockey Club from 1975 to 1982, as well as appearances by The Charlie Daniels Band, Styx, REO Speedwagon and other hitmakers of the time.
However, Mitch was most proud of his family. It is truly what he loved the most, and he created countless wonderful memories for his kids, grandkids and their friends on athletic fields, on horseback, on lakes, in streams, and in Jeeps and stadiums, and over the occasional Budweiser. All the while, though, Mitch gave credit to Elaine, his wife of 64 blessed years, for raising the kids and making them the people they are.
We could try to do this obituary justice, but condensing Mitch’s life, accomplishments, passions, energy, enthusiasm, humor, gratitude, philanthropy, spirit and fire into a few inches of newsprint just isn’t possible.
As a matter of fact, Mitch left 17 pages of typed, single-spaced instructions on what to do in the event that he might one day pass. With such a long list of passions, accomplishments and countless wonderful, funny stories, we encourage you to put on your loudest plaid clothing and join us at a celebration of Mitch’s life with the details outlined below.
A memorial celebration of Mitch’s life will be held from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Ballroom, 1335 S. Lindbergh (at Clayton Road). A tribute will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Memorials to the Buddy Fund, 2827 Clark Ave., St. Louis, Mo., 63103 (www.buddyfund.org), or the Guadalupe Center, 509 Hope Circle, Immokalee, 34142 (www.guadalupecenter.org) are appreciated.
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1928 - 2014 (86 years)
