Mitchell Donovan

Mitchell “Mitch” Donovan passed away on January 18, 2025, at the age of 72, at his home in Wellsville, Kansas. A memorial visitation will be held 5-7PM, Friday, January 31, 2025 at Wilson’s Funeral Home in Wellsville, followed by a friends and family gathering at Chili-Jacks at 7. Inurnment of cremains will take place at a later date in Gardner Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to the Secret Santa of Wellsville or the Gardner Edgerton High School Alumni Scholarship Fund in care of Wilson’s, PO Box 486, Wellsville, KS 66092.

Mitch was born to Ben and Margie (Hendricks) Donovan on October 6, 1952, at the Reese Hospital in Gardner, KS.

Most of Mitch’s life was spent in Gardner, KS, first on a dairy farm and then in a house his dad built for the family, both west of Gardner, KS. He attended Gardner Elementary School, Gardner Junior High School, and graduated from Gardner-Edgerton High School in 1970. Mitch was married and divorced two times, first to Debbie Meyer, with whom he shared a daughter, Kimberly; and second to Janet DePriest. He was unmarried at the time of his death.

The bulk of Mitch’s work life was spent as a Regional Sales Engineer for Fairbanks Morse (now Pentair-Fairbanks Nijhuis), Kansas City, KS, that manufactures industrial and public works pumps. His job took him to many places beyond Gardner, KS, like New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina where he helped restore the municipal pumps. After taking an early retirement, he opened Mitch’s Custom Motorcycles in Baldwin, Ks where he offered service and repair along with customization for Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Mitch traveled for his job every week, but when he came home, he had many interests—and continued to enjoy them his entire life. He shared those interests in Harley Davidson Motorcycles, NASCAR racing, hunting, fishing, and gun collecting with many, many friends and relatives. Mitch relocated from Gardner, KS to Wellsville, KS, where he formed many new friendships during the last 25 years of his life. He was a true and loyal friend and found great satisfaction in helping his friends and loved ones when they were ill or down on their luck.

Mitch was preceded in death by his parents, Ben Donovan and Margie Donovan. He is survived by his only daughter Kimberly Good, her husband Heath Good, and his only grandson Jayden Good, Edgerton, KS; one sister, Neila Donovan, Gardner, KS, and two brothers, Bradley Donovan (Robin), Lambertville, MI, and Tracy Donovan (Kim), Gardner, KS; 8 nieces and nephews Meghan Donovan (John), Ben Donovan, Jillian Donovan, Jack Donovan (MI), Dustin Donovan (Amanda), Cristy Douglas (Brandon), Wellsville, KS, Trevor Donovan (Meagan) and Carley Armato (Pat), Tampa, FL; and 13 great-nieces and -nephews.

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