Edward “Ed” C. Mueller

Ed would like to first of all acknowledge his extreme gratitude for his family and all his friends.

Surrounded by his family, Edward Carl Mueller passed away peacefully at home on September 23, 2023. He was born on July 14, 1932 to Walter Henry and Viola Ida (nee Bartzen) Mueller in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Phyllis Mueller. He is survived by his wife Doris (nee Kerscher), whom he married in 1955. He is also survived by his children Nancy (Michael) Pietrowiak, Janet (Kevin) Cohen, Cheryl (Laxson) Boyd, and Gary, along with 8 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and his 2 nieces and one nephew.

Edward attended a one room school in Millersville, Wisconsin, for his first seven years of education. He had the same teacher for his first 6 levels, Miss Violet Herburg (she was “terrific”), and completed 8th grade at Howards Grove Elementary School, then attended Sheboygan Central High School. After graduation he attended Mission House College (now Lakeland University), where he obtained his BA in 1954 with a major in German and minors in Biology, English, and History. While at Mission House, he enjoyed his experiences in athletics; he particularly enjoyed playing fastpitch softball in the late ‘40’s and early ‘50’s.

Ed got his first job teaching German, Biology, and Conservation at White Lake High School in Langlade County, Wisconsin, from 1954 until 1965. He coached football, basketball, and baseball, and served as athletic director until 1960. He was very active in promoting resource conservation during his years in White Lake. His classes were instrumental in helping to establish a White Lake High School Forest. From 1963-1964, Ed attended Oregon State University, where he attained an MS degree in Natural Resources. During the summers, he attended various programs to further his education, including Trees for Tomorrow in Eagle River (1956), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1957), Wisconsin Conservation Department, now the DNR, (1958-’59), and Michigan State University (1960-’62), where he received an MS degree in Resource Conservation. He continued his education with summer programs in 1967 (Colorado State University, genetics) and 1986 (Marquette University, DNA). Ed also taught a summer college Zoology program at UW-Stout/Barron County, and was integrally involved in salmon research in Lake Michigan, sponsored by the Sea Grant Program and the Wisconsin DNR for multiple years during the 1970’s and 1980’s.

In 1965, Ed began teaching Biology at South Milwaukee Senior High School, where he also taught German. He coached the Girl’s Swim Team from 1978-1980. He enjoyed teaching all levels of Biology at the High School, including Special Education classes, until his retirement in 1990. Ed was impressed by so many of his students who worked very hard in his classroom.

After retirement from teaching, Ed started a business focused around nature photography, called appropriately “Mueller Nature Pictures”. He maintained a storefront in South Milwaukee from 1990-2001. He took and developed pictures of the nature around him, and offered framing services. He also enjoyed gardening, including maintaining a plot on the County Grounds, and was an accomplished woodworker. He continued to enjoy woodworking as a hobby, and many friends and family members have received the paper towel holders that he proudly made. Throughout his life, Ed enjoyed hunting and fishing; turkey hunting with his brother, Robert, was his favorite. He also enjoyed trout fishing with his father, and taught all of his children and grandchildren to fish. Many summers included a trip to Cedar Springs Trout Farm, a highlight for Ed and his grandchildren.

Edward was an active church member his entire life. He held nearly every office at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Cudahy, Wisconsin from 1967 until it closed in 1991. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in South Milwaukee from 1992 until his death. He was very active in the church’s Buildings and Grounds committee, including painting, building improvements, repairs, snow removal, and landscaping.

Ed celebrated his German heritage as a very active participant in D.A.N.K. (Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress) since the early ’80’s. He served on the D.A.N.K. Board for 20 years, only recently retiring. He has been involved with the institution’s folk dancing and singing groups, and as a volunteer at Milwaukee’s German Fest for almost 40 years. At German Fest he was very involved in the Culture Area, loved making German-style Pizza (yes, that is a thing), and enjoyed working in the beer tents.

Ed was always very invested making suggestions to improve our society, and was a prolific writer of letters to all levels of local government officials, including Governors, State Senators and Representatives, and leaders of the Wisconsin DNR and DOT.

To  celebrate Ed’s life, services will be held on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2507 5th Avenue, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53172 with a visitation from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, followed by a Memorial Service at 3:00 PM.

The 3:00 PM Memorial Service will be live-streamed on Trinity Lutheran Church South Milwaukee’s Facebook page.

Very special thanks to Touching Hearts at Home, especially long-term caregivers Lisa and Diana, and ProMedica Hospice nurse Julie.

In lieu of flowers, donations to South Milwaukee Human Concerns, the Parkinson’s Foundation, or Trinity Lutheran Church are appreciated, or plant a tree in Ed’s memory.