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Born: September 8, 1948
Death: August 9, 2019
A. Charles Mueller, Jr., 70, of La Salle, longtime area funeral director passed away peacefully on Friday, August 9, 2019 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago surrounded by his family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at St. Patrick’s Church, La Salle with Very Rev. Paul Carlson officiating and Rev. Ronald Margherio, OSB as the concelebrant. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Webster Park. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Mueller-Pagani Funeral Home, La Salle. Additional visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday at the church.
Mr. Mueller was born on September 8, 1948 in La Salle to A. Charles and Jean (Yenerich) Mueller. He married Donna J. Turner on January 29, 1970 in St. Patrick’s Church, La Salle. He attended LPO Junior College, and IVCC where he was a member of the first graduating class, University of Illinois in Champaign, and Worsham College of Mortuary Science. Following graduation, he joined the family profession in 1970, with his father at Mueller Funeral Homes, Peru and Lostant and Mueller-Pagani Funeral Home, La Salle. With his father and brother, they started the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa and Mueller Funeral Home, Cherry. After the death of William Prey, they became partners with Prey family at Prey-Mueller Funeral Home, Oglesby. He retired as President of the Mueller Funeral Homes, Inc. in 2008.
He served on the board of directors at Hometown Bank, La Salle, serving on the Executive Loan Committee, Trust Committee and as chairman of the Audit Committee and also served on the boards for the American Red Cross, American Funeral Assurance Co., Pekin Insurance Advisory Board and Kensington-Kaskaskia, La Salle. He was named to Business and Professionals Who’s Who, Oxford’s Who’s Who, Outstanding American Business and Professionals and Outstanding American’s. Chuck was past president of La Salle Little League, La Salle Park Board, St. Patrick’s School Board and Church Council and Horizon House, Peru. Chuck coached basketball at St. Patrick’s, La Salle for several years. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Church, La Salle, La Salle Rotary Club, La Salle Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society, Holy Rosary Men’s Club, Illinois Valley Serra Club, St. Bede Alumni Association, Peru CSO, L-P Booster Club, LP Jaycees and the Illinois Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.
He is survived by his wife, Donna of La Salle; his mother, Jean Mueller of Peru; two sons, Scott Mueller of Palm Desert, Ca. and Christopher (Colleen) Mueller of Oglesby; three daughters, Becky (Kevin) Dornik of Peru, Julie (Lance) Siebert of Dimmick, Twp. and Elizabeth (Mark) Grzybowski of Peru; 14 grandchildren, Katy Gapinski, Olivia Mueller, Maya Mueller, Ava Mueller, Anna Mueller, Jake Mueller, Lydia Dornik, Ethan Dornik, Aubrey Siebert, Nolan Siebert, Kaylee Siebert, Dylan Grzybowski, Eloise Grzybowski and Kennedy Grzybowski; two great-grandchildren, Collette and Greta Gapinski; two sisters, Barbara (William) Peters, of Fort Worth, TX and Jane (Steve) Fly, of Houston, TX., and two brothers, Arthur (Ellen) Mueller of Ottawa and John (Cynthia) Mueller, M.D. of Dunlap; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, A. Charles Mueller on March 13, 2013 and one sister, Deborah Mueller.
Pallbearers will be Olivia Mueller, Maya Mueller, Anna Mueller, Mike Peters, Randy Turner, Joe Janz and Bob Lamboley. Honorary pallbearers will be Katy Gapinski, Ava Mueller, Jake Mueller, Lydia Dornik, Ethan Dornik, Aubrey Siebert, Nolan Siebert, Kaylee Siebert, Dylan Grzybowski, Eloise Grzybowski and Kennedy Grzybowski.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Horizon House, Peru, Trinity Catholic Academy, La Salle or the American Liver Foundation.
The online guestbook may be viewed and memories shared at www.MuellerFH.com.