Gerald Mueller

MILLERSVILLE, Mo. -- Gerald Ray Mueller, 78, of Millersville, Missouri, passed away peacefully Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, due to complications of age, Parkinson's and other illnesses.

He was born May 14, 1939, in St. Louis County, to the late Erich G. and Meta M. (Kropp) Mueller.

He was married to Judith Sandra Miller on Oct. 8, 1960, and they began their lives together in Bridgeton, Missouri, with their three children, and with God always at the center. They were active members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Olivette, Missouri, before moving to Southeast Missouri in 1972. That year, Gerald brought with him his green thumb, his faith, his family, his kindness, and his undying loyalty to the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball franchise. Until the end of last season, he still enjoyed listening to their games on the radio almost every day.

Gerald partnered with his brother on the family vegetable and greenhouse farm outside of Bertrand until his retirement in 2004. "The Farm" as it became affectionately known, provided a comfortable living for both families, "character-building" summer jobs for spouses, children, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends and employment for many Mississippi County residents over the decades. Gerald was known for his calm, gentle demeanor and his employees presented him with the "World's Greatest Boss" award in the 1990s. Seldom did a spring garden planting season begin in the area without someone asking, "Did you get your plants at Mueller's yet?"

Gerald was an active member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston before retiring and moving with his wife, Judy, to Millersville. Judy always wanted a house in the hills with mature trees, and, to the astonishment of the neighbors, Gerald found a way to garden in that rocky soil and to bend the earth to his bidding. Gerald and Judy joined Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit in 2004. Gerald was a devoted Christian, a loving husband, caring father, master gardener, and a Redbirds fan to the core. He will be missed by all those who knew and loved him, and by all those who may not even have known he was always cheering them on, whether winning or losing.

Loving survivors include his wife of 57 years Judith of Millersville; two sons, Jeffery Daniel Mueller and wife Dawn of New Athens, Illinois, and Andrew Todd Mueller and wife Danielle of Springfield, Missouri; a daughter, Julie Ann Muhlfeld of Cape Girardeau; two brothers, Erich Mueller and wife Delores of St. Charles, Missouri, and Orval Mueller and wife Clara of Florissant, Missouri; nine grandchildren; Catherine, Michael, Joseph, Cody, Matthew and John Mueller, Joel Muhlfeld and wife Bree, and Zoey and Colin Mueller.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Milton and Harold Mueller; and a sister, Bernice Stoy.

Visitation will be Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson and Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, from 9 a.m. to service time, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit.

The funeral service will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at the church with the Rev Mark Boettcher officiating.

Interment will follow in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences can be sent to www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Hope Seeds of Bertrand, Missouri, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit, Mo., or the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.

Paid obituary