JOHN R. MUELLER, 1924-2014

Point Place man was principal in area districts

1/13/2014

John R. Mueller, a Point Place resident who worked in three southeast Michigan school districts, died Sunday at Windhaven Eldercare Center in Temperance.

Mr. Mueller, 89, moved into Windhaven nearly a year ago because of advanced dementia, which was the cause of his death, said Violet “Molly” Mueller, his wife of 55 years.

He was born in Toledo on Jan. 25, 1924, to John and Mary Mueller. His parents had emigrated from Passau, Germany.

He kept his German heritage alive by participating in the American Turners club and the Holzhacker Buam Schuhplattlergruppe as a youngster, his wife said.

He graduated from Waite High School in 1942 and served in the Army during World War II, stationed in China.

He received a bachelor of education from the University of Toledo and a master of business administration from the University of Michigan.

Mr. Mueller met his wife, the former Molly Roottier, while teaching science and math at Mason Consolidated Schools in Erie.

“I was the secretary to the principal and he was a teacher,” she said.

The couple married on April 12, 1958.

He left Mason for Blissfield, where he served as elementary principal for two years. He then went to Monroe, where he taught two months before being named principal of Jefferson Elementary School, where he worked 29 years.

Mr. Mueller’s last year was as director of special education until his retirement in 1986.

“He worked a lot with the handicapped kids in Monroe,” his wife said, adding that he quietly would help students financially.

He was a member of the Monroe Rotary Club and as a Paul Harris Fellow took on various volunteer activities.

When Monroe County began raising money for a two-year community college, he chipped in financially and by soliciting money from other donors, his wife said.

While serving as principal at Jefferson, he accepted a term as the first school board president for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, where he was a longtime member.

Mr. Mueller was a woodworker, and in 1954 he and his brother built the family’s Cape Cod-style home.

Mr. Mueller’s garden produced vegetables and fruits that the couple canned. He collected stamps and coins, an interest fueled by his Army service, she said.

Mr. Mueller is survived by his wife, Molly Mueller; daughters Ann DeBoe, Sue Rhodes, Gretchen Tijerina; sons John and Ray Mueller; 11 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Sujkowski Funeral Home Northpointe, 114 E. Alexis Rd., with a Scripture service at 2:30 p.m. The funeral will begin at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home and continue with a 10 a.m. Mass at St. John the Baptist Church.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

Contact Jim Sielicki at: jsielicki@theblade.com or 419-724-6050.