Mary Lou Mittel

Mary Lou Mittel

07/06/1929 – 11/03/2022

Born in Kankakee, IL

Mary Lou was an empowered woman long before her time.  She knew how to motivate people towards a cause.

She married Robert (Bob) Mittel on August 20, 1949.  They were married and had 4 children, Susan, Donna, Carl, and Eric.  Bob passed in 1975.  Mary Lou and Bob were honored for their accomplishments in the area, with a street, Mittel Drive, named after them in Wood Dale, IL and it now has a tollbooth of the same name. 

Mary Lou was very active for the good of her town and country.  She was the first woman to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals for Du Page County and was the first woman police commissioner for the city of Wood Dale, IL.

She helped start the first kindergarten in Wood Dale.

Girl scout leader. A time she always remembered fondly. 

Precinct 12 Committeeman, first to finish Bob’s term and then duly reelected on her own merits.

Founder and first curator of the Wood Dale Historical Society formed in 1971, Yesterday’s Farm Museum. 

She moved to Tampa, Florida in the 1980’s and was the Events Coordinator at Homes of Regency Cove in Tampa for many years which happily fulfilled her life for nearly 30 years.

She was a proud fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then Tom Brady. 

She loved gathering at the Keen Age Center in Belvidere and played cards and bingo weekly.  She has made many friends and “had fun there”. 

She was predeceased by her children, Sue (Hal) Follis and Carl (Gini) Mittel. 

She was survived by her children, Donna (Klaus) Fukala and Eric (Lisa) Mittel along with 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

She talked to “everyone” and made a string of friends wherever she went. She will be missed. 

There will be a brief Celebration of Life held at the American Legion at 900 W. Chrysler Blvd in Belvidere, IL. on November 19th from 1PM to 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Boone County Council on Aging Keen Age Center.