Jill was born to her proud and adoring parents, Paul and Hannah (nee Hudak) Chopak, of Nanticoke, PA. Jill grew up in Lee, PA and graduated from John S. Fine High School (Nanticoke, PA) in 1979. While growing up, Jill helped her parents run their family business, The Glen Lee Bar and Grill—more affectionately known as “Chopak’s”—in Lee. She then attended college at Florida Institute of Technology in Jensen Beach FL, graduating with a B.S. in Ocean Engineering in 1983.
Following graduation, she was hired by the Department of Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in February 1985. She proudly worked as a Chemical Engineer with the U.S. Naval Submarine Force in Arlington, VA (Crystal City) and the Washington D.C. Navy Yard, where she retired in February 2020 after 35 years of loyal service.
Jill met her future husband, Bruce Mueller, a submarine sailor originally from West Bend, WI, in November 1986. They were married on September 14, 1991, and moved to their current home in Annandale, VA. Their only child, Alexis, was born April 1st, 1996.
She is preceded in death by her younger brother, Michael Chopak; father, Paul Chopak; mother, Hannah Chopak (nee Hudak); brother-in-law, Fred Mueller; father-in-law, Frederick William “Bill” Mueller; and nephew, Andrew “Drew” Boldt, of West Bend, WI.
She is survived by her husband, Bruce, of Annandale, VA, and daughter, Alexis, of Ashburn, VA.
Jill is further survived by her cousin, Eric Hudak, of Glen Lyon, PA; mother-in-law, Pearl Mueller (nee Wagner), of West Bend, WI; sisters and brothers-in-Law Ann Marie (John) Craig, of West Bend, WI; Mary (James) Boldt, of West Bend, WI; Katrin Huerzeler, of Thunder Bay, Ontario; Janet (Steve) Gustman, of Marinette, WI; Rita (Mike) Nowotny, of Greenville, WI; Carol (John) Hanrahan, of Waterford, WI; and Kathleen (Paul) Noetzel, of Cedarburg, WI.
She leaves behind nieces and nephews Erin (Sam) Bergstrom, of South Korea; Emily (Doren) Sorell, of Valley Village, CA; Madeleine Craig, of Edinburgh, Scotland; Erich Boldt, of Minneapolis, MN, Nathan (KC) Boldt, of Cleveland, OH; Lillian Huerzeler, of Thunder Bay, Ontario; Stephen Gustman, of Bothell, WA; Tim Gustman, of Menominee, MI; Matt Gustman, of Chattanooga, TN; Jason Nowotny, of St. Louis Park, MN; Ben Nowotny, of Madison, WI; Sarah Nowotny, of Menominee, WI; Mariah Hanrahan, of Middleton, WI; Ethan Hanrahan, of LaCrosse, WI; Clara Noetzel, of Minneapolis, MN; Elena Noetzel, of Columbia, MO; Gabe Noetzel, of Cedarburg, WI; and Jacob Noetzel, of Cedarburg, WI.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.demainefunerals.com for the Chopak-Mueller family.
An additional funeral mass will be held on Friday, January 27th, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 1025 S 7th Ave, West Bend, WI.
In lieu of flowers, Bruce and Alexis ask for your humble donation to either Tunnel to Towers Foundation (a charity which Jill held dear) or a children's hospital of your choosing.
Thank you.
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