Donald Edgar Mueller passed away Thursday, February 15, 2018 at the Stephenson County Nursing Center after a courageous battle with leukemia.

Donald was born on November 13, 1929 in Green Bay, WI to Helen (Jamison) Mueller Brondyke, and Don was proud to say he remained a life-long Packers fan! Don later attended Fulton High School and graduated in 1949. He married Vivian Pearson in 1949, and they became parents to four children – two sons and two daughters. Don enlisted in the United States Army in 1951 and served his country in both Korea and Germany before being discharged in 1953. After his military service, Don farmed in Albany until a serious accident ended that career. He worked several other jobs until he discovered his love of working with teachers and children as a custodian at Harding Elementary School in Clinton, IA for 18 years, before retiring in 1998. Some of Don's favorite memories are of helping the kindergartners with boots and zippers, and reading them stories.

Don and his wife Vivian spent winters in Texas after his retirement until his wife passed in 2004. Don continued to go south which is where he met his special friend Edith Bauer of Stockton, IL. Don and Edith were fortunate to have 13 years together in Stockton – spending much of their time between Illinois and Texas, and with their families and friends.

Don is survived by two sons, David (Jenny) Mueller and Robert (Marilee) Mueller both of Clinton, IA; two daughters, Jane (Matt) Lundquist of Mt. Carroll, IL and Karen Mueller of Clinton, IA; eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren; special friend Edith Bauer of Stockton, IL; two half-sisters, Jane VanZuiden of Morrison, IL and Beverly Vite of Racine, WI. There will be a funeral service Wednesday, February 21 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Home & Crematory. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 4:00 p.m. There will also be a Celebration of Life memorial service on Sunday, February 25 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Stockton, IL. Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. until the time of service at 3:00 p.m.