Barbara H. Mueller

Barbara Mueller journeyed home on Saturday May 9th. She was 83 years of age. People who knew Barb would describe her as warm, gracious, kind, and generous. To say that she was big-hearted would be an understatement. Even huge-hearted would not come close. She used to say, “there’s always room for one more sheep in the barn” and so her heart and home were always open. She loved people and animals, except for snakes. She hated snakes. Barb was completely unselfish. If she had two of something, you were sure to receive one. If she had one of something, you were sure to be the recipient. She was generous with her time and always had a smile and warm, friendly means of conversing. If someone was socially isolated, Barb was sure to reach out and include them. Barb didn’t perceive herself as social, but everyone else knew otherwise! One time at Walmart there was a group of gangsters, all with their hats askew standing in line behind her. She couldn’t resist striking up a conversation with them. And of course, the conversation included complementing them on their hats and asking them if they were aware that their hats were lopsided. Barb was honest. When asked for her opinion she was tactful but not shy. You always knew the ground on which you stood. So, if you were looking for validation of your own opinion or views, Barb was not the person to go to! Barb was incredibly trustworthy. If you asked her to hold something for you, be it an item or secret, she held it for life. And she believed in justice and fair play, which means you best not even think about cheating at bingo! She was a determined lady. Sometimes lovingly and jokingly family would say pigheaded. With great pride she would say,“why thank you but I actually much prefer the word tenacious”. Barb was adventuresome. As an adult she learned to ski and swim and hiked Longs Peak in Colorado and the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska with her family. She had a great sense of humor. People who thought they could outwit Barb were in for a treat. She could both play a joke as well as receive one. She was a great sport! Barb was resourceful. In wanting to make a chocolate cake for her husband, who’s birthday fell not long after Easter, she decided to make use of the uneaten candy. It was obvious what had transpired when one daughter bit into the cake only to see a big blue eye staring back! She was patient and humble. Neighborhood children could not pronounce Mrs. Mueller so instead took to calling her Missyoullie. She never corrected them. In fact, for many years, affectionately, family and friends adopted the nickname. She made countless personal sacrifices for family; family was everything but not the only thing. She believed that a family that loves and cares for each other learns to become part of a community that loves and cares for each other. She believed herself to be a reflection of God’s love and that His directive to “love each other” starts at home through examples set by her as a parent.

Barb was born in Century, Florida on November 1, 1936. She graduated from Arlington High School, Arlington Heights, Illinois. On September 9, 1959 she married Hermann Franz Mueller. She met Hermann at a wedding the year prior. A wedding, incidentally, that neither of them planned on attending but only did so when coerced by family and friends. They were the two inseparable peas in a pod! In 1992 while working full time and attending Rosary College part time, Barb earned her Master of Arts Degree in Library and Information Science. She was then employed as a librarian in northwest Chicago suburban High School District 214.

Barb was preceded in death by her parents Michael and Magdalena Opels and her husband Hermann. She is survived by her daughter Sandy Mueller, son-in-law Dave Rowe, daughter Bonnie Kay, son-in-law Brian Kay, grand-children David Kay, Sarah Kay, Martha Kay, Rachel Kay, Erik Jacobsen, and Kurt Jacobsen, and great-grandchildren Liam Jacobsen, Jessa Jacobsen, Jack Jacobsen, and Maxwell Jacobsen. Funeral service and interment will be private.