Mardelle Dornbusch Mueller (1928-2013)

MUELLER, HIBBING, DORNBUSCH, OLDEWURTEL, SECRIST, JENKINS, DUBBERT, BARRY

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 11/16/2016 at 17:10:45

Mardelle Ann (Hibbing) Dornbusch Mueller, was born Feb. 20, 1928 on a farm four miles west and one mile north of Paullina in Caledonia Township, O’Brien County, Iowa to Herman and Anna (Oldewurtel) Hibbing. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith at Zion Lutheran Church on March 11, 1928 and later confirmed on May 17, 1941. She received her elementary education at Zion Lutheran School and later graduated from Paullina High School on May 14, 1945. Mardelle went to a technical school in Kansas City, Missouri for four months to become a teletype operator for Western Airlines in Burbank, California.

On May 25, 1947, she was united in marriage to Russell Dornbusch and together farmed their entire married life southeast of Paullina. Russell died on May 11, 1985. During those years Mardelle worked as a switchboard operator for the Paullina Telephone Company and later as a bookkeeper for the Telephone Company when Paullina switched to dial phones. When the office was moved, she began working as a receptionist/bookkeeper/insurance clerk for Dr. Paul Boone and later Dr. Charles Breeling.

On January 14, 1989, she was united in marriage to Leroy “Spud” Mueller and they enjoyed nineteen years together until his death in 2008. Over the years, Mardelle enjoyed knitting, crocheting, fishing, reading, playing cards, and dancing. But most of all she enjoyed being with her family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School off and on for forty years, served on the Evangelism Board and often chaired that board. She was in Ladies Aid and served as both treasurer and president. She also sang in the church choir as well as volunteering for the Cancer Society and Hospice.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Steven and his wife, Kathy of Plymouth, Minnesota; grandchildren, Jason and Laura (Darel Secrist); great grandchildren, Kiana, Kylee, Seth and Elijah Secrist; her step children, Dennis (Pam) Mueller, Pat Grigg, Barb Mueller Jenkins and Joni (Stan) Dubbert; step grandchildren, Christina, Brandon, Derek, Alyssa, Lyndsey, Drew, Hannah, Leanna, Conner, Carley, Sarah and Eric; and step great grandchildren, Joshua, Caden, Zachary, Zoe, Ellie and Evelyn; also a brother, Walter (Verlie) Hibbing, brothers-in-law, Richard (Kay) Dornbusch, and Pat Barry; many nieces, nephews and countless friends.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Russell Dornbusch and Spud Mueller, her parents, two brothers, Ray and Vernon Hibbing; sisters-in-law, Ardyth Hibbing, Fran Hibbing and Phyllis Dornbusch.

From Eldridge Funeral Home