Gerald Mueller

Gerald Ray Mueller, 78, of Millersville passed away peacefully because of age complications of Parkinson's and other illnesses Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, at Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born May 14, 1939 in St. Louis County to the late Erich G. and Meta M. Kropp Mueller.

He and Judith Sandra Miller were married Oct. 8, 1960, and they began their lives together in Bridgeton, Missouri, with their three children, and with God always at the center. They were active members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Olivette, Missouri, before moving to Southeast Missouri in 1972. That year Gerald brought with him his green thumb, his faith, his family, his kindness and his undying loyalty to the St. Louis Cardinals baseball franchise. Up until the end of last season, he still enjoyed listening to their games on the radio almost every day.

Gerald partnered with his brother on the family vegetable and greenhouse farm outside of Bertrand, Missouri, until his retirement in 2004. "The Farm" as it became affectionately known, provided a comfortable living for both families, "character-building" summer jobs for spouses, children, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends and employment for many Mississippi County residents over the decades. Gerald was known for his calm, gentle demeanor, and his employees presented him with the "World's Greatest Boss" award in the 1990s. Seldom did a spring garden planting season begin in the area without someone asking, "Did you get your plants at Mueller's yet?"

Gerald was an active member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston, Missouri, before retiring and moving with his wife, Judy, to Millersville. She always wanted a house in the hills with mature trees, and, to his neighbors astonishment, he still found a way to garden in that rocky soil and to bend the earth to his bidding. They joined Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit, where he has been a member since 2004. Gerald was a devoted Christian, a loving husband, caring father, master gardener and a Redbirds fan to the core. He will be missed by all those who knew and loved him and by all those who may not even have known he was always cheering them on, whether winning or losing.

Loving survivors include his wife of 57 years Judith; two sons, Jeffery Daniel Mueller and wife Dawn of New Athens, Illinois, and Andrew Todd Mueller and his wife Danielle of Springfield, Missouri; a daughter, Julie Ann Muhlfeld of Cape Girardeau; and two brothers, Erich Mueller and wife Delores of St. Charles, Missouri, and Orval Mueller and wife Clara of Florissant, Missouri. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Catherine, Michael, Joseph, Cody, Matthew and John Mueller; Joel Muhlfeld and wife Bree; and Zoey and Colin Mueller.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Milton and Harold Mueller; and his sister, Bernice Stoy.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Mark Boettcher officiating. Interment will follow in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Memorials may be made to Hope Seeds of Bertrand, Immanuel Lutheran Church or The Parkinsons Association.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.