Peggy Jo Chirban-Mitchell

Peggy Jo Chirban-Mitchell was born to Clyde and Pat Vessell on March 20, 1959, right here in her hometown of Rolla. Her early years were filled with country life, horseback riding, and athletics, like softball, track, gymnastics, dance, and the Finn Swim team.

In high school, she stayed involved in athletics, drama, and softball. She later attended UMR and Drury University to earn a degree in Business/Economics, immediately followed by opening what was then called Vessell’s Racquet Club, when racquetball was at its peak. After an addition in the 90s, this became a full fitness facility and was dubbed “Vessell’s Fitness,” a business she poured her energy into for 44 years.

In 1983, Peggy married Mark Chirban and they had two sons, David and Nathan. They were married for 24 years, until his passing in 2007. Together, they owned and operated Vessell’s Fitness, which was the center of much of life for the Chirban family. It didn’t matter where they were going, Peggy would always suggest, “Let’s meet at Vessell’s.”

Much of life turned on sports, whether traveling as a family to Columbia for soccer, or Springfield for basketball, or Saint Louis for racquetball. Sports were the international language in which the Chirban’s communicated. Mark and Peggy particularly enjoyed taking walks and playing tennis together.

Anyone who spent much time with Peggy knew her love of all things performative. Her sister would tease her that all she ever heard as children was “Watch me! Watch me!” and then everyone would have to watch Peggy do some kind of performance. Peggy took this love of the performing arts and directed Drama Force, a traveling Christian ministry team, for 17 years. Much of the material was original, and she was a significant contributor to that, choreographing several music interps herself.

The team consisted mostly of young people, and when any of the boys got a little too wild, they would hear her put an end to their antics: “Get this stupid out of here.”

Throughout her adult life, Peggy taught Sunday school in her church, bringing the Bible to life for so many kids, one craft, story, and snack at a time. This impact included her own children, grandchildren, grandniece, and grandnephew. Peggy loved Jesus and was a devoted member of Christian Fellowship for the past 20 years, where her sons also pastor.

One of Peggy’s superpowers was making people feel at home. Not only was family very important to her, but she made people feel like they belonged as part of a family. Even though she raised a family of all boys, she also had “her girls,” young ladies whom she “adopted” as her own daughters, who would try to impart a touch of the feminine in Peggy’s life. One of her delights was her daughters-in-law, as well as her grand girls, whom she loved spending time with, whether at church, the gym, or on Friday family night.

In 2018, she married Steve Mitchell, who had been a friend for many years. Together, they loved taking the boat up the river, going for a motorcycle ride, and working on house projects. They both owned their own businesses and knew the value of hard work and the challenges that came with it.

Peggy is survived by her husband, Steve Mitchell; her siblings, Susan (and Russ) Hinkle, and Rick (and Lori) Vessell; her sons, David (and Elainna) Chirban, and Nathan (and Julie) Chirban; her nephew, Chad (and Amanda) Engelke; her grandnephew and grandniece, Clay and Addilyn Engelke; and her grandchildren, Arianna, Rebecca, Payton, Josephine, and one more grand-baby on the way.

Peggy was loved by so many and will be missed. One of her favorite sayings, which she acquired from her dad was: “Good night. God bless. May the good Lord take a liking to you. I’m heading to the ranch!” Together, we’ll wait for that day, when we can see each other again.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the Greentree Christian Church in Rolla. A Celebration of Peggy's life will begin at 11:00 a.m.

Private family burial will be in the Lake Springs Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Jeremy Schmitz Missionary in Uganda. Checks can be made to Christian Fellowship of Rolla with Uganda Missions on the memo line.