Donald Mueller

MUELLER On Thursday, February 14, 2019, Donald Peter Mueller, passed away at the age of 99! Donald "Don" Mueller was born on July 3, 1919 in Stockton, MN to Hubert and Francis (Kulawski) Mueller. He started his working career as a bellhop at The Kahler Grand Hotel in 1936 where, in 1940, he met and married the best dancer in the world, Romaine Fischer. He went on to become a pipe welder at the Bechtel Shipyards in Sausalito, California. A career that he carried over into his military life when he enlisted in the Navy October 1943. Don was a Seabee (CB- Construction Battalion) assigned to the 133rd Marine Battalion. Naval Construction Battalion 133 accompanied the invading forces on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945 with a primary goal of maintaining a constant supply to the forward lines of Marine forces. As soon as the Japanese were driven from their airstrips, the Seabees went to work and in just seven days, the northeast-southwest runway had been made operational and was in use by American planes. Over the next five months that the Battalion spent on Iwo Jima, over 100,000 tons of rock was crushed, over a million cubic yards of earth moved, 5,900 feet of drainpipe was laid, 4,000 feet of conduit was installed and 725 cubic yards of concrete was placed. NCB 133 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for its part in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was also part of the relief efforts in Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He as often flown to other ships to weld their boilers because of his skill and talent with pipe welding. After the military, he went to work for the Rochester Dairy Co-op, which later became Kemps/Marigold and retired in 1982 after 37 years. Don loved to garden, fish, hunt, and he loved watching sports on TV. He enjoyed a round of golf now and then and he played fast pitch softball many years ago. He loved the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Gophers (hockey, football, and basketball). He would cheer for Wisconsin only because that is where he was living when he moved from Minnesota but only if they were not playing a Minnesota team. He would cheer for Penn State but only as a last resort! However, he cheered the loudest for the Minnesota Twins! Because he lived to be almost 100 years old, Don was preceded in death by almost all of his friends and family that he grew up with, although Don's greatest loss was the death of his wife in December 2003 after 63 years of marriage. He is survived by his daughter Nancy (her son-Chris) Roulier, his sons; Daniel (Deanna) Mueller, James (Crystal) Mueller, his younger brother Lloyd (Jeanne) Mueller, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many distant relatives. A private family funeral service was held at his graveside on Friday, February 22, 2019. In lieu of flowers, the family ask that you make a memorial donation in Donald's name to the Gary Sinise Foundation or the National Wildlife Federation. Arrangements entrusted to Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes.