Milton Mueller

Milton Erich Mueller, 90, of Cape Girardeau passed away peacefully Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, at the Lutheran Home, due to age complications as well as Parkinson's disease, diabetes and related conditions.

He was born July 1, 1927, in St. Louis County to the late Erich G. and Meta M. Kropp Mueller. He was married to Patricia Ann Vilda on Nov. 25, 1951. She preceded him in death after 60 years of marriage in January 2012.

Milton served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1947. In 1952, Milton represented the Missouri Vegetable Growers Association as president in visits to Gov. Phil Donnelly's office in Columbia, Missouri, and then to Washington, D.C., and the office of President Dwight Eisenhower.

He was an active leader and member of three Lutheran congregations during his life: Immanuel Lutheran at Olivette, Missouri, Concordia Lutheran at Sikeston, Missouri, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel in Cape Girardeau. He was also an active participant with Gideons and Hope Seeds.

Milton was owner/operator/partner of a vegetable farm operation in the Creve Coeur Lake area of St. Louis County from 1948 to 1972, consisting of 65 acres and 2 acres of greenhouses. He moved the farming operation to Bertrand, Missouri, in 1972, growing 160 acres of vegetables and 7 acres of greenhouse-bedding plants. He retired in 2002 and moved to Cape Girardeau, then to Saxony Village in 2004, and finally to the Lutheran Home in 2015.

He is survived by three brothers, Erich (Delores) Mueller and Orval (Clara) Mueller, both of St. Louis, and Gerald (Judy) Mueller of Cape Girardeau; and six children, Mike (Jean) Mueller of Bertrand, Aleta (Paul) Barker of Franklin, Tennessee, Jeanne Chambers of Cape Girardeau, Chaplain James (Cindy) Mueller of Jefferson City, Missouri, Diane Wicker of Cape Girardeau and Pam (John) Boyd of Cape Girardeau.

Milton was proud to be grandfather to 11 grandchildren and three stepgrandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren and six great-stepgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Harold; and sister, Bernice.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home and also one hour prior to the funeral service.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel, with Pastor Weston Wildauer officiating. Burial will take place at 2 p.m. Friday at Sikeston Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be made to Hope Seeds, 4501 Manatee Ave. W. No. 161, Bradenton, FL 34209, or Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel, 1904 W. Cape Rock Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.