Mary Lou Mueller

If the saying “Cleanliness is next to godliness” is true, then our mother is now seated very near the Almighty. She was welcomed into His arms on December 16, 2021 at the age of 93. Mary Lou Carey Mueller was born in Appleton on March 12, 1928, the daughter of Anna Marie McGinnis Carey Filen. She insisted she was a 100% pure Irish lass until a recent DNA test revealed she was actually part Scottish. Of course her response to that was, “What do they know?” She was baptized into God’s grace on April 1, 1928 and was confirmed on November 5, 1950.

Even as a young child she knew her calling was in the nursing profession. She told stories of using her dolls to “practice” surgery and first aid. Her dream was fulfilled when she graduated from Mercy Medical School of Nursing in 1949 as a registered nurse. She was employed briefly by Winnebago State Hospital, but spent the next 25 years working in the Health Center at UW-Oshkosh, where she retired in 1990.

Although she retired from her career, she never retired from the love of helping people in need. She was indispensable to countless friends, family and neighbors. This included giving rides to the doctor’s office, church, visiting nursing homes, sitting with friends who didn’t want to be alone, providing food for the sick, or calling on a lonely individual to brighten their day. Besides a professional level of cleaning, other interests included knitting, sewing, card games, puzzles, reading, cooking, and baking (she always had chocolate chip cookies on hand). She was very active at Grace Lutheran Church, volunteering for the “Reading Buddies” program, the church newsletter, and the Quilters organization.

Mom’s friends saw one side of her, but her children were the ones who were the greatest beneficiaries of her motherly wisdom and iconic life lessons. Her loving greeting? “Wipe your feet and close the door!” Her medical advice? “Listen to your body.” Her response to almost every question? “Because I said so.” And if you asked again? “Wait until your father gets home.” Her discipline measures? “Stop crying before I give you something to cry about.” And then there were the classics that so many of our generation heard, “I wasn’t born yesterday”; “There are starving people in Africa”; “This hurts me more than it hurts you”; and “I’ll wash your mouth out with soap!” She made us into the men and women we are today, so we are not at fault!

Mary Lou is survived by her five children: Mary Jo Mueller , Greenville; Pam Albrecht, Larsen; William Mueller, Lomira; Robert (Lisa) Mueller, Oshkosh; and Paul Mueller, Oshkosh. Her grandchildren include: Matthew (Jeanne) Hergert, Hawthorn Woods, IL; Luke Hergert, Keller, TX; Kerri Hergert, Greenville; Nicholas Hergert, Smyrna, TN; Christopher Mueller, Osaka, Japan; Scott Mueller, San Diego; Joshua Mueller, North Salt Lake, Nevada; Brandon Mueller, Oshkosh; Elizabeth Mueller, Fond du Lac; Kevin Mueller, Oshkosh; Kailyn Mueller, Oshkosh; and Jordan Mueller, Oshkosh. She was blessed with three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, William and sister, Donna Vils.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home- West, 100 Lake Pointe Drive in Oshkosh. The memorial service will also be held at the funeral home with Pastor Chadwick Graham from Grace Lutheran Church officiating . A celebration of life will be held for the family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.

We are sure our Scottish-Irish mother would want to share her favorite Irish blessing with all of you. This was hanging in her kitchen for years:

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rain fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Special thanks to all of you who have enriched our mother’s life. She was truly blessed. And her family is saddened but also rejoicing that she will be celebrating Christmas in the arms of Jesus, her Savior.

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6.