Joseph W. Mueller

Joseph Werne Mueller, 81, died Wednesday, June 25, 2003, at Caretel Inns nursing home, after a lengthy illness, with his family surrounding him. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, June 28, 2003, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph, with Msgr Eugene Sears officiating. Burial will follow in Resurrection cemetery with Military Honors. Friends may call on the family from 2-4pm and 7-9pm today, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Liturgical prayers will be recited at 7pm today. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or Hospice At Home. Those wishing to share a memory on line may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Joseph was born June 3, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois to Joseph J. and Katherine (Werne) Mueller. He attended St. Edward?s Catholic School (Racine) and Racine Junior High School, and graduated from Fond du Lac Senior High School in Wisconsin. His family moved to St. Joseph in 1940, and he began working at Whirlpool. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1942 to 1946, first with the 11th Armored Division, and then was sent to the Philippines with the 26th Tank Battalion. He married Marie R. Schilling on February 20, 1945, at St. John?s Catholic Church in Benton Harbor. She preceded him in death on July 28, 2002. After the war, he continued his employment with Whirlpool until retiring in 1984 as Packaging Engineer for the Laundry Division. He was a member of the Whirlpool Management Club and Whirlpool Old-timers, and participated in the Whirlpool Bowling League for many years. Joseph was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was also a trustee on the Shoreham Village Council for 10 years, and a representative to the St. Joseph Township Police and Fire Boards. His hobbies included model trains, woodworking, and gardening. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and brother and will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Survivors include: two daughters ? Catherine (Patrick) Hirzel of Battle Creek, Mich., Patricia (Robert) Dillon of Rochester Hills, Mich.; four grandchildren ? Kevin Hirzel, Timothy Hirzel, Brian Dillon, and Kathleen Dillon; two sisters ? Elizabeth (Albert) Jensen of Prescott, Ariz., and Sr. Catherine Mueller, Daughter of Charity, of Los Angeles, Calif.; sister-in-law, Louise Holle of Eau Claire; two brothers-in-law ? Howard (Erika) Schilling of Dowagiac, and Ralph (Emma Jean) Schilling of Eau Claire; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Lawrence.