On the eve of his 56th birthday, Mitch Ware passed at his home on S. Smith Street in Lakeport. He was a lifetime resident of Lakeport.
Mitch was a hero everyday to his family – although he has died, he was also a survivor. He was a victim of hepatitis “C” from a blood transfusion over 30 years ago. We told him at the time how “lucky” he was to survive a 35 foot fall from a power pole. The transfusion of blood during surgery helped save his life – it was also his death sentence.
After surviving the accident and recuperation, Mitch went on to build metal buildings and homes. When his health started failing he was diagnosed with diabetes and hepatitis “C.” Shortly after he received that news, he fell off a roof and landed on his heels. The crushed heels were repaired during surgery but were contaminated with osteomyelitis. He spent most of a year battling the infection and recovering in a wheelchair, then on crutches, and finally back upon his badly damaged feet and living his life as fully as possible in spite of constant pain.
Mitch loved his family and his dogs, his jeep and his John Deere tractor, growing cedar trees and building redwood decks, and Sunday breakfast at “Renees”. Mitch collected rocks of interest, hunted turkeys on the Ortwein ranch, and played cribbage and “ace-duece” with friends. He watched John Wayne movies and the History channel, and loved trading stories with all the construction gang. He could browse an antique store and find the most unique items in the store. He loved tools and NASCAR races and deer hunting with his father, Ken Ware.
Mitch is survived by his loving family, wife of 36 years, Nancy (Ortwein); son, Alan Ware of Lakeport; daughter, Leanne Ware of Portland, Ore.; mother, Jewel Ware of Lakeport; and brother, Vern (Leanne) Ware of Lakeport. His extended family includes in-laws, John and Jeannette Ortwein of Las Vegas, Nev.; and Mary (Ortwein) and George Barker of Colorado; aunts and uncles, Jim and Maxine Dawkins of St. Marys, Ga., Dixie Germolus of Pleasant Hill, Elmer and June Ware of Las Vegas, Nev., Peggy Ware of Lakeport, Jeanne Padget of Lakeport, and Ron Ware of Corralitos; nieces and nephews, Aaron Ware of Carson City, Nev., Rachel Mercer of Eugene, Ore., Donnette Lemon of Cottage Grove, Ore., David Ortwein of Laguna Nigel, Jamie Rayfield of Corona, Paul Herrera of Milton, Fla., and Chris Barker of Rock Springs, Wyo.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 27 at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at Chapel of the Lakes.
For further information call Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 263-0357 or 994-5611 or www.chapelofthelakes.com.
Please sign the guest book at www.record-bee.com. Click “Obituaries.”
Source: Lake County Record Bee (Lakeport, CA) – Wednesday, April 25, 2007
