MITCHELL LINK

MITCHELL LINK

     Mitchell Norman Link, 35, walked on April 5, 2023, in Merrillan, WI. He was born May 25, 1987, in San Antonio, TX, to Jeffrey A. Link and Tris Y. Harris (RedCloud). He moved from San Antonio to Noblesville, IN, to Black River Falls and Neillsville, WI, in his youth, spending time between his mother, father and grandmother, aka his living angel, Annita RedCloud. Mitchell Norman was named after his great-grandfather, Corporal Mitchell RedCloud Jr. and grandfather Norman Link.

     Mitchell loved traveling, visiting relatives, doing different jobs and making lots of friends. He worked in landscaping in Indiana and as a cook at a Chinese restaurant in Tennessee, but his favorite jobs were at the Ho-Chunk Casino in Black River Falls where he worked in the food and beverage department, and maintenance. He was loved by all of his co-workers and casino guests who he helped whenever he would see them, even it was just to get them something to drink, or clean around their area.

     In 2008, he married Mariah Blackhawk, and they had two children together, Arrayah and Mitchell Jr., however, they grew apart, and he met Enchanting Littlewolf, and they had two children, Khashious and Little Bear. When he was with them, he spent every minute focused on them and making them happy. He wasn’t able to spend many years with his children, but he loved them with all of his heart and would talk to everyone he came in contact with about how proud he was of them. Out of everything in his life, this is what he would want everyone to know, especially his children.

     Mitchell is survived by his four children, Arrayah, Mitchell Jr., Khashious and Little Bear; his mother, Tris, and stepfather Jonathan Harris; his grandmother, Annita; stepgrandmother Penny Harris; his brother, Tristan YellowCloud; his sisters, Carey Link, Jayda Harris and Nataly Harris; his uncles, Mitchell (Kari) Kamisato, James (Lynn) Harris, Gary (Patti) Hall, Duane (Anita) Link and James Link; his aunts, Cori (Dave) Blaschke, Pamela White, Joely (Robert) Walter, Eileen Funmaker and Diane (Rene) Wallace; and so many cousins and friends that he loved as well.

     Those who were there to greet him when he crossed over are his father, Jeffrey; his grandfather, Wayne Kamisato; his grandparents Norman and Mildred Link; stepgrandfather Col. Donald Harris; and his uncle, Reggie Link.

     He would also want everyone to know that he struggled with addiction from a young age and would not want his life to be sugar-coated. He would want his relatives and friends who are still using to know that there is a better way, and that those that make and sell drugs need to be put away so no more lives are lost; we have lost too many of our Ho-Chunk relatives, and this has to stop. Mitchell would want the Ho-Chunk Nation and the counties to make treatment for addiction available for everyone who asks for it; it may not stick the first or second time, but we should not give up on anyone.

     There will be a celebration of life gathering at the Buswell Funeral home in Black River Falls, WI, Wednesday, April 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, he would want you to make a donation to any program for recovering addicts in your area or a monetary donation to his mother in order to help start up Kijire Nagu, a Ho-Chunk Healing Center.

     His ashes will be taken to Hawaii where he always wanted to be.

     The Buswell Funeral Home of Black River Falls is assisting the family, 715-284-2231.