Van Luke Mitzel, 80, of Bismarck, passed away on Friday, March 6, 2026, at CHI St. Alexius Medical Center.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, March 11, at Ascension Catholic Church, 1825 S. 3rd St., Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 5:00–6:30 PM on Tuesday, March 10, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck, with a Rosary/Vigil Service beginning at 6:30 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Funeral Mass.

Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Van was born December 28, 1945, in Napoleon, where he grew up and attended school. He attended North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND, and graduated with a degree in HVAC. On November 23, 1968, he married the love of his life, Catherine Schmaltz of Tappen, ND. They moved to Madison, MN, and Van worked as an EMT and Cathy as a nurse. In 1972, they moved to Bismarck, ND. They welcomed their first child, Barb, in 1975, and Matt in 1978. Van worked as an HVAC Technician with different companies throughout his life and retired from the Youth Correctional Center in Mandan, ND. He quickly got bored with retired life and was a part-time HVAC instructor at BSC and ran equipment for Cavendish Farms in Jamestown, ND.

Van loved to work on both the Schmaltz and Mitzel family farms, and you could usually find him tinkering on a tractor. He loved going to his daughter, Barb’s, ranch and helping her and Brian with the haying and calving chores. He enjoyed working with neighbors and friends to build up their rural community. After retirement, he enjoyed his grandchildren and visiting with a friend base that he grew throughout his whole life. His family knew there was never a public place in which he didn’t know at least one person.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine, Bismarck; his daughter, Barb (Brian) Williams, Buffalo, SD; his son, Matthew (Brianne) Mitzel, Munich, ND; his sisters, Annie Mitzel, Seattle, WA; Thresea Everding, Fargo; Fredolena (Ralph) Dreitzler, Kirland, WA; and his grandchildren, Brianna, Brooklyn, Brody, Colton, and Asher.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Mathius and Adelaide Mitzel; and his brothers, Ronald and Patrick, and sister, Blanch.