John Michael Mittendorf (Mike) was born on May 3, 1952, in Anderson, Indiana.  He was the oldest of four children born to John Mittendorf & Betty (Wade) Mittendorf. He grew up on the family farms in Rush County & Knightstown, Indiana.  He attended elementary school at Carthage, Central, & Raysville, Indiana, Jr High in Knightstown, Indiana, & graduated from Rushville, Indiana in 1970.  While in school he was a member of the lightweight wrestling team.  He played basketball and shared the story of playing in the famous "Hoosier" gym. He was heavily involved in horse racing as a jockey until he suffered an injury.  Mike attended the drafting/engineering program at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mike entered the workforce right out of high school and followed his passion of farming by joining a harvest crew traveling across the country.  He made it as far as Northwest Oklahoma where he made the decision to plant new roots & raise his family.

He was united in marriage to Shena Dyer from 1982 to 1995 and made their home in Shattuck, Oklahoma to which four daughters were born, Michaela Jean, Jacqueline Rosa, Joni Rae, & Miranda Jo. He was employed at Braum's Farms for several years and loved everything about it, the work, the people, & the ornery pranks shared daily with his close co-workers. He also worked for Classic Cable & Pioneer Telephone for several years. He worked at Starbuck Feeds up until he retired a few years ago.

He was an avid outdoorsman and gardener.  He loved his horses & goats and following harvest crews around the nation by podcast and social media.  Road trips were a favorite of his, taking the "scenic" or longest route possible to avoid major highways.  Mike and his dad traveled many miles chasing antiques and attending farm sales.  The mountains in Taylor Park, Colorado were another favorite destination with his siblings and parents to a family cabin.  Most of all he enjoyed spending time with family & his granddaughters.  He was his granddaughters' biggest fan when it came to their extracurricular activities. You could count on him being at every event cheering them on.

Mike was preceded in death by his Grandparents Walter and Chloe Mittendorf, and Harvey Wade and Josephine (West) Eiler.  Also, grandson Korben.

John Michael Mittendorf is survived by his dad John & Emily Mittendorf of Shattuck OK, his mother Betty Friend of Pendleton, Indiana, sister Vickie and R. L. Lashley, of Indiana, sister Carla James of Indiana, brother Tony Mittendorf of Indiana and Stepsister Kelly Cornejo of Woodward, OK, Stepbrother Michael and wife Janice Choate of Enid, OK.  His daughters:  Mickey and Colton Green of Goldendale, WA, Jackie Mittendorf of Ponca City, OK, Joni and Riley Latta of Arnett, OK and Miranda and Lance Pinkert of Elk City, OK.   Grandchildren:  Kaydence and Kalayna Berry of Ponca City, OK, Zallana Green of Goldendale, WA, Riah, Jozie and Raylie Latta of Arnett, OK, Jaron and Jezni Aranda of Elk City, OK.   Along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In leu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arnett Little League or Ellis County Transportation Service.