Robert Mueller

ROBERT "BOB" NICHOLAS MUELLER

Cedar Rapids

The day after his 88th birthday, Robert "Bob" Nicholas Mueller left us to join his Father in heaven. Funeral services: 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19, at Trinity Lutheran Church by the Rev. David Renfro. Visitation: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at Trinity Lutheran Church and one hour before the service on Monday. Burial will follow the service in Linwood Cemetery. Arrangements by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids.

Born Dec. 14, 1928, in New York City, to Karl and Bertha (Kaul) Mueller, he was the youngest of five sons. His parents and brothers, Carl, Albert, Arthur and Walter, all preceded him in death, as did his in-laws, Adolph and Maria (Hinck) Koester; stepmother-in-law, Eleanora; and granddaughter-in-law, Stacy Mueller.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 61 years, Henrietta (Koester) Mueller; children, Mark (Silvia) of Cedar Rapids, John (Susan) of St. Paul, Minn., Rose (Gaylon) Heetland of Cedar Rapids and Paul (Angela) Mueller of Grand Island, Neb.; 13 grandchildren, Eric Mueller of Savage, Minn., Vanessa (Luis) Martinez and Taylor Mueller of Cedar Rapids, Rachel Mueller of St. Paul, Minn., Karl (Tabitha) Mueller of Russia, Nicole Heetland of Venice, Calif., Emma (Mark) Squire of Odessa, Wash., Alex Heetland of India, Kate Heetland of Austin, Texas, Alicia (Lance) Burmood of Lincoln, Neb., Kailyn (Dwight) Anthony of Richardson, Texas, David Mueller and Eternity Johnson of Grand Island, Neb.; 12 great-grandchildren, Viviana, David, Gabriel, Evangelina, Sophia, Claire, Adam, Kathryn, Karter, Theodore, Marie and Everett; brother-in-law, Herman (Lorraine) Koester of Albuquerque, N.M.; and sister-in-law, Adeline Koester of St. Paul.

Bob and Henrietta met in Waterloo, Iowa, in 1953, when Bob was pitching for the White Sox organization in the Three-I League. He retired from the N.Y. Yankees organization. They were married June 19, 1955, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Livermore.

Bob received degrees from Queens College, N.Y., Mankato State, Minn., and the University of Iowa. He studied summers at Guadalajara and Mexico City, Mexico. Herr Mueller taught German, Spanish and history for 32 years at Washington and Jefferson high schools. He sponsored the student German Club, served as president of Iowa Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German, was chairman of the high school students' AATG contests, developed a course in business German and interpreted and did translation work for local businesses. In the 1960s, Bob was a Fulbright Exchange Teacher at the Gymnasium in Dachau, Germany. Bob was fluent in German and Spanish and ever a student; he also studied Russian, Chinese and French.

Bob enjoyed the outdoors and organized a sandlot hockey group, the Cedar Rapids Flyers, and ice skated regularly with his family. He spent other free time playing sports with his children. Bob had a passion for playing the clarinet, piano, listening to music and attending concerts. Bob joined Trinity Lutheran Church in 1958 and was a faithful member. He served on the school's board of Christian Education and was an usher for many years.

In retirement, Bob kept busy. He taught German part-time at Coe College, Hamilton Business College, Cornell College and Regis High School. He volunteered transportation for medical appointments and with a local ESL group. He also kept books for Mueller Tax Service. His love for reading was evident when wearing a "Clifford the Big Red Dog" costume at the library and schools while giving out books to children. He was a charter member of Friends of the Public Library.

Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran School or donors' choice.

Please share your support and condolences with Robert's family on his tribute wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.