Mildred Mueller

Mildred Louise Mueller, 94, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at the Lutheran Home.

She was born June 9, 1919, in Altenburg, Mo., daughter of Ferdinand and Alma Seibel Buck. She and Harlan Mueller of Wittenberg, Mo., were married June 21, 1942.

Mildred was a 1938 graduate of Perryville High School in Perryville, Mo. She worked for Perryville Feed Mill and then for a small arms plant in St. Louis.

After Harlan's service with the Navy during World War II in Norman, Okla., the couple moved to Cape Girardeau and opened the Broadway Variety Store on Broadway. Later they opened the Harlan J. Mueller Insurance Agency, which they operated more than 40 years. Mildred was a licensed insurance broker.

She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school and Bible school and participated in the Senior Ladies Aid and Lutheran Women's Missionary League. While raising two sons, Mildred served as a member of Trinity School parent-teacher organization, and was a Cub Scout den mother. She loved to play cards and was a member of several card clubs. She liked to travel.

At the time of her death, Mildred was the oldest living past president of the Southeast Hospital (now SoutheastHEALTH) Auxiliary. She served as president from 1972 to 1974 and before that held other auxiliary offices. A life member of the auxiliary, Mildred was involved in its reorganization in 1958.

As an active volunteer in many areas of the hospital, Mildred donated more than 3,000 hours of service from 1962 to 1998. After becoming an inactive volunteer, she continued to support the auxiliary and attended meetings as recently as a few months ago.

One of Mildred's most notable contributions to the auxiliary was as co-chairwoman of the annual flea market and bazaar for 15 consecutive years and hundreds of hours in addition to her volunteer hours. For their tireless efforts and success in helping the flea market raise more than $175,000 to donate to Southeast Hospital, Mildred and her two co-chairs each received the Special Service Award from Southeast's board of trustees in 1983.

Additionally, Mildred was an active member of the Lutheran Home Auxiliary. She was a member and past president of the Exchangettes.

Ever cheerful, Mildred met each day with a positive attitude and each person with a smile and cheerful greeting. She appreciated and cared deeply for others and throughout her life maintained cherished relationships with a wide circle of relatives, friends and acquaintances.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

She is survived by two sons, John Harlan Mueller (Susan) of Tampa, Fla., and Thomas J. Mueller of Cape Girardeau and friend Becky Kleckner of Olmsted, Ill.; two grandchildren, Melanie Garbs (Gary) of Florissant, Mo., and Brian Hutson of O'Fallon, Mo.; and three great-grandchildren, Chelsea and Lucas Garbs and Abigail Hutson.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church, with interment in Cape County Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran School, the Southeast Hospital Auxiliary, Trinity Lutheran Church Radio Ministry or the blind ministry at Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.