Mary E. Mueller, 87

Published 5:48 pm Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Mary E. Mueller, 87

Mary Ellen Mueller, age 87, of Austin, MN passed away with family by her side at Sacred Heart Care Center on March 14, 2025.

Mary was born on July 24, 1937, in Austin to Everett “Jack” and Dorothy (Handke) Ator. The third of four kids, Mary grew up roller skating, babysitting, and being the protector of her little sister and anyone else that needed it. A lifelong Austin resident, Mary attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from Austin High School.

On September 6, 1958, Mary was united in marriage with Elmer Mueller. Mary and Elmer were partners not only in life, but in square dancing, card night, coordinating family meals, and most importantly, raising their family together. Raising seven kids wasn’t easy, but it is what Mary loved doing. She enjoyed spending time with her kids, especially sharing life skills like making and mending clothing, growing a garden, canning, and even making donuts. She loved being involved in her children’s lives. Mary always found the best in her kids, even when they weren’t at their best.

Mary and Elmer instilled in their kids the importance of family and friends. They enjoyed many vacations “up north” with friends and their families, and at Cedar Lake near Faribault with relatives and their families. Mary was very close to her mother and the kids spent time at “Gram’s” house.  The family also enjoyed the visits to Grandpa and Grandma Mueller’s home in Stacyville.

Mary’s love of her 17 grandchildren and 23 great–grandchildren was apparent as she sat in gyms, arenas, auditoriums, attending games, plays, concerts, performances, and even livestock shows. Her home was filled with pictures of grands and greats, and her calendars filled with their birthdays and events for her to attend. Of course, she loved seeing them anytime, but especially on Halloween when she invited all to her home for soup, sandwiches, and of course, neighborhood trick or treating.

There was one more part of Mary’s family … that would be her animals, especially her beloved Benji. Through the years, Mary had at least one furry family member in the house. Mittens, Jumbo, Johann, Molly, and then Benji who was literally her fur baby for 18 years. Her love of animals was apparent as she cared for her own and cared about all others. Mary was a supporter of the Mower County Humane Society and enjoyed taking Benji on fundraiser walks.

In addition to her family and her pets, Mary’s other passion was being a nurse. In nursing school, she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Society. She started her career at what was then called St. Olaf Hospital in Austin. Mary was very proud to have worked in OB, the ER, and she eventually became the hospital nursing supervisor. After several years, Mary went to a part–time status at the hospital while being the full–time nurse at the Minnesota Sheriff’s Boys Ranch and then the Director of Nursing Services at Gerard of Minnesota. Mary retired from her nursing career after more than 40 years of providing care to others, but she never quit being a care giver. To those that knew her, she was a nurse forever more and she’d have it no other way! Even as a patient, she was ‘Mary Mueller, RN.’ She once wrote, “I was born to take care of people and so that’s what I did.”

Mary’s care for others reached beyond her family and her patients. She also cared about her community and the people in it. As a young parent, she served on the Southgate PTA and was a Girl Scout leader. Along with other neighborhood parents, she helped get South Grove Park built in Bustad Addition. She spent years as a First Aid and CPR instructor for the American Red Cross as well as being an AIDS Educator. Mary was very proud to be a founding member of the Crime Victim’s Resource Center where she was also an advocate and advocate trainer and served on the board. She was honored by both the American Red Cross and the Crime Victim’s Resource Center for her volunteer hours dedicated to each organization. She was also recognized for assisting in rescuing a child that was pinned under a vehicle.

Mary enjoyed traveling, the music of Englebert Humperdinck and Johnny Mathis, as well as the tigers and entertainment of Siegfried and Roy. Quite often her traveling and concert partner was her sister. She took many trips with some of her adult children and her friends too. Mary loved going to local plays and concerts with family and friends and she even sang with the Northwest Singers for a couple of years. She was a collector of various things, usually with the thought that her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids would someday enjoy them. In particular though, she was an avid Department 56 Village collector, so much so that the company owners contacted her to buy her DEPT 56 license plates from her for their own use.

Mary is survived by her husband Elmer; her children Mark (Lori), Annie (Roger) Stratton, Morey, Darci (Gene) Kline, John (Dawn), and Betsy (Jess) Dunlap; her grandchildren Nicole (Ken) Fannin, Michael Mueller, Ryan (Kristin) Hanson, Carrie (Kevin) Madson, Ashley (Randy) Gehling, Lauren Stratton (Jordan Lukes), Riley Stratton, Eric Kline, Alex Kline, Samantha (Troy) Pell, John (Sam) Mueller, Jacob Mueller, Hannah Mueller (Nick Olson), Matt Mueller, Brendan Dunlap, Nicholas Dunlap, Camille Dunlap; and her great–grandchildren Brielle, Charlotte, and Harper Fannin; Myles, Cooper, Gabrielle, and Remy Hanson; Shea, Oliver, and Cael Madson; Liam, Mara, and Jayden Gehling; Brady and Bo Lukes; Raistlyn, Elijah, and Harrison Kline; Tyler and Dylan Pell; Leighton, Emmett, and Gideon Mueller. She is also survived by her sisters Gloria Levine and Kaye Ziegler; in–laws Delphin and Mary Ann Mueller, Anita Adams, and Mary Mullenbach, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Everett and Dorothy Ator, parents–in–law John and Elizabeth Mueller, daughter Jodi Mueller, brother and sister–in–law Tom and Maureen Ator, in–laws, nieces, and nephews.

The family would like to thank those that provided Mary care and comfort at South Grove Lodge, Mayo Clinic Health System, Sacred Heart Care Center, and St. Croix Hospice.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 am on Monday, March 24, 2025 at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Andrew Beerman officiating.  Visitation will be held from 2–4 pm on Sunday, March 23 at Clasen–Jordan Mortuary and also from 10–11 am on Monday at the church.  Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Mary are suggested to Mower County Humane Society or an organization of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements by Clasen–Jordan Mortuary