Michael D. Mintle, 73, of Grinnell, died Thurs-day, July 23, 2015, at his home with his family by his side.
A celebration of his life with military honors was held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, at the Grinnell Christian Church. Interment was in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Memorials may be designated to the Wounded Warrior Project and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Michael Dean Mintle was born Oct. 7, 1941, at St. Francis Hospital in Grinnell to Marsten Ross Marston and Ila Marie (Adkins) Mintle. He was raised on a farm north of Grinnell for 10 years and then moved to a farm northeast of Grinnell. He attended country school through eighth grade and then graduated from Grinnell High School with the Class of 1959.
Mike enlisted in the United States Navy right after graduation and honorably served his country during the Vietnam War. Following his military service, he moved to Oregon and lived there for two years before moving back to Iowa. Mike was known for owning and operating the Silver Lace Saloon in Malcom and The Little Bear Inn in Searsboro, where he raised a brown bear cub for three years before releasing him in South Dakota. He was the chairman for the National Elks Veterans Service Commission for 11 years, past president and treasurer for the American Legion, secretary-treasurer for the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Grinnell, and was a longtime member of the Grinnell Veterans Ceremonial Unit (Color Guard). During his time with the Grinnell Veterans Ceremonial Unit, he had provided military rites for more than 300 United States Armed Forces service members' funerals.
Mike dearly loved his grandchildren. He cherished the time spent babysitting them, taking them camping and fishing, and did his best to make tomboys out of his granddaughters. Mike took great pride in his garden and loved sharing the food grown from his garden with family and friends.
Mike is survived by his wife, Anna Mae Mintle of Grinnell; six sons, Terry Mintle of Fort Mill, SC, Mark Mintle of Casper, WY, Troy Mintle of Omaha, NE, Brian (Missy) Mintle of Grinnell, Brent (April) Mintle of Lynnville, and Bradley "Fred" (Susan) Mintle of Racine, WI; four stepchildren, Randy (Linda) Collum, Mike Collum, Cindy Cleary, and Connie (Randy) Lacy, all of Grinnell; 15 grandchildren; 13 stepgrand-children; and 15 stepgreat- grandchildren; his mother, Ila Mintle of Grinnell; and siblings, Mary McIvor of Wheat Ridge, CO, Dennis Mintle of Longmont, CO, and Steve Mintle of Grinnell.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ross Mintle; and two stepchildren, Chris Brown and Dennis Collum.
