Richard Mueller

Watertown - In His loving kindness, our heavenly Father sent His holy angels to carry the soul of Rev. Richard Wm. Mueller, to his heavenly home on Saturday evening, December 1st, 2012 at the age of 83 years old. Rev. Mueller's love was serving his Lord and Savior in all aspects of his life, as a missionary, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. The love of God in Christ was the driving force in Rev. Mueller's life. The Lord gave His promise of forgiveness in Christ to Rev. Mueller at his baptism on September 22, 1929. By God's grace, Rev. Mueller publicly confessed his faith at his confirmation on April 18, 1943. To God be the glory!

Richard Wm. Mueller Jr. was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on September 7, 1929 to Pastor Richard William Mueller Sr. and Helen Mabel (Laesch) Mueller. He was made a child of God and an heir of eternal salvation through Holy Baptism on September 22, 1929 at St. Johann Ev. Lutheran Church in Arcadia, Wisconsin. On April 18, 1943, he confirmed his faith in the Triune God at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church in Medford, Wisconsin. He graduated from Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin in June, 1951. He was united in marriage to Irene Louise Kuckkan on June 7, 1953 and they began a blessed bond that lasted for over 59 years. In 1954, he graduated from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin. He was ordained and installed as a pastor at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Crivitz, Wisconsin. In 1956, he was called to serve as a missionary in Central Africa. He served in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) from 1957 to 1962 and again in 1965 to 1972. He also served in Nyasaland (Malawi) from 1962 to 1965. He, his wife, and family returned to the United States in 1972.

After their return to the United States, he served as a teacher at Lakeside Lutheran High School for two years. He then served mission congregations in Crystal Lake, Illinois, Elgin, Illinois, Waunakee, Wisconsin, and Weslaco, Texas. He retired from the full-time ministry in June of 1996. He lived out his remaining years in Medford, Wisconsin and Watertown, Wisconsin. While at Immaunel Ev. Lutheran Church in Medford and St. Mark's Ev. Lutheran Church in Watertown, he visited the sick and shut-ins -- and brought them the Lord's Supper. He also assisted with Communion at St. Mark's in Watertown. Richard Mueller's joy was "to serve the Lord".

Richard is survived by his wife Irene Louise (Kuckkan); six children Deborah (Glen) Wilson, Richard (Wanda Sterwald) Mueller, Timothy (Susan Brandt) Mueller, Susan (James) Weiland, Stephanie (Jeffrey) Heitsch, Steven (Melody Karas) Mueller, nineteen grandchildren and twenty-nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father Richard Sr., who was taken home to heaven while preparing his sermon in the church sacristy of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in Jefferson WI. on September 6, 1969. Also preceding him in death were his mother Helen Mabel (Laesch), one brother, who was stillborn in 1937, one sister Helen Kellberg, one brother-in-law, one grandchild and four great-grandchildren

The Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, December 6, 2012 at St. Mark's Ev. Lutheran Church with his son Rev. Timothy Mueller officiating. Visitation will be at 9:00 AM prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Lutheran Cemetery immediately after the service with a luncheon following at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to 1411 Wedgewood Drive, Watertown, WI and will be given to the Lutheran Church of Central Africa and Christian Education at St. Mark's Lutheran School (Watertown) and other Christian Education Ministries.

Pederson-Nowatka Funeral Home of Watertown is caring for the family. On-line condolences can be made at www.PN-FH.com

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