Leroy "Spud" Mueller (1924-2008)

MUELLER, RICHTER, VOLLINK, DORNBUSCH, GRIGG, JENKINS, DUBBERT, SECRIST, BORCHARDT, SCHMITH, LUTTMAN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 11/16/2016 at 15:51:41

Leroy was born on August 14, 1924 on a farm ¾ mile north of Germantown, Iowa to Theodore and Emilie (Richter) Mueller. He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church on August 31, 1924 and was confirmed there on April 10, 1938. He attended St. John’s Lutheran School in Germantown through the 8th grade, and then attended Paullina High School, graduating in 1942. He went to Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa for two semesters, until he was called home to help his father with the farm, when his brother was drafted into the military.

On June 4, 1948, he married Anna Marie Vollink and lived and farmed ¾ mile west of Germantown. Five children were born to Leroy and Ann: Dennis, Gary, Patricia, Barbara and Joni. Ann died suddenly in 1987. On January 14, 1989, Spud married Mardelle Dornbusch and he retired from farming and moved into Paullina, where he continued to live until his death on August 1, 2008 reaching the age of 83 years, 11 months and 17 days.

Spud was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church until after his marriage when he joined the Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina. At St. John’s he held many positions on the council including President, secretary, elder and trustee. He was a member of the Lutheran Layman’s League Cherokee Zone for sixty years, and held many different offices. He was the secretary/treasurer of Branch 1609 of the Aid Association of Lutherans for 26 years. He served terms on the school board at St. John’s. During his membership at Zion, he served on the Evangelism Board and also the Endowment Board. He was a member of the Germantown Fire Department for 17 years. He also served on the Western Cherokee Mutual Insurance Board for 20 years. Spud loved sports and was especially fond of baseball and the Chicago Cubs. He played baseball with the Paullina Lakers and the Granville town team in the late forties and fifties. He was also a big fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes. He successfully hunted pheasants every fall since his childhood. He taught himself the game of golf after he retired and looked forward to spring weather and the reopening of the course each year. In all seasons, he would be glad to join in a game of cards. He smiled easily, loved to tease, and ate more than his share of chocolate chip cookies, candy bars and ice cream. His strong Christian Faith and his family were the most important things in his life. He traveled many miles on trips to visit his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Mardelle of Paullina; his children: a son and his wife, Dennis and Pam Mueller of Urbandale, IA; three daughters, Patricia Grigg of Hamden, CT; Barbara Jenkins and husband, Al of Wilton, IA; Joni Dubbert and husband, Stan of St. Joseph, MI and a step-son, Steve Dornbusch and wife, Kathy of Plymouth, MN; his grandchildren, Christina, Brandon and his wife, Nicki; Alyssa, Derek and his wife, Liz and Lyndsey Mueller; Andrew and Hannah Grigg; Leanna and Conner Jenkins; Carley, Sarah and Eric Dubbert; step-grandchildren, Jason Dornbusch and Laura and her husband, Darel Secrist; step great-grandchildren, Kiana, Kylee and Seth Secrist; a sister Marian Borchardt of Joplin, MO; two sisters-in-law, Elsa Mueller of Oelwein, IA and Vi Mueller of Fulton, MO; a brother-in-law, Clarence Schmith of Paullina and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by wife, Ann; a son, Gary; his parents, two sisters, Evelyn Luttman and Fern Schmith and two brothers, Everett and Hillard Mueller.

From Eldridge Funeral Home