David "D.J." Lee Mitchell, Jr.

David “D.J.” Lee Mitchell, Jr., 32, of South Bend, Indiana passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2025. He was born on February 23, 1993 in South Bend, Indiana to the late David Lee and Dorothy Louise (Allen) Mitchell. D.J. was also preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Bobbie Jean Mitchell and maternal grandfather, Johnnie T. Ross. He is survived by his sister, Lauren (Frank Mwaisaka) Mitchell of Osceola, Indiana, three nephews; Isaiah, Imani, and Ilias, maternal grandmother, Elvie Ross and numerous aunts and cousins.

D.J. graduated from Corpus Christi Catholic school in 2007, and went on to attend Saint Joseph High school and graduated in 2011. He had developed a fascination for the world around him, so later he would go on to Indiana University in South Bend to major in Biology.

D.J. enjoyed hiking, playing video games, travelling, cooking, and trying new foods. He fell in love with snowboarding, so he spent numerous winters going back and forth to Michigan to take up his new hobby. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with family, friends, and his cats, Cali and Cassie. He was a loving son, brother, uncle, friend, and cat dad. He loved spending time with his nephews; teaching them new things, going to their sporting events, and taking them new places. He always had such a positive, encouraging spirit, and loved to make people laugh.

D.J. was a great mentor not only to his nephews but to other kids in the community as well. D.J. spent the last couple years of his life taking care of and giving back to others. He worked as a mentor in a program for middle school children in Elkhart called Five Star. Then, he cared for his mother until her passing in 2024.  

A visitation for D.J. will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Dr. South Bend, IN from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to Riley Children’s Hospital.

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