Loretta Mueller

Our loving Wife, mother and grandmother, Loretta Heape Mueller (83) of Richmond, Texas went home to be with our Lord on April 11, 2014.

SERVICE INFORMATION

Monday April 21, 2014 Viewing at the Memorial Oaks Cemetery 6:00-8:00

Tuesday April 22, 2014 Funeral will be held at:

St. Mark Lutheran Church

1515 Hillendahl

Houston, Texas 77055

(713) 468-2623

In Memory of Loretta H Mueller

The Mueller Family has designated the

St. Mark Lutheran Church Special Needs Fund for Memorial Contributions

www.stmarkhouston.org

Loretta Dale Heape was born October 1, 1930 in Hollidayboro, Illinois to mother Marie E. Mumbower and father Reba Heape. She grew up in Murphysboro, Illinois and at the age of 12, while attending a summer church camp, she found the Lord. This discovery would prove to be her strength in the future.

MIRACLES

When Loretta was 15 she began working at the local bus stop restaurant. While working one day she met a young man from Southern Illinois University who stopped by, he was changing buses and grabbed a bite to eat. Loretta was 16 and working at the cash register. The young man handed her his ticket and on the back it read “Hello smiles how about a date?” Loretta said “yes”! This began a long courtship between Loretta and Walter Mueller, Jr. Shortly after they started dating Walter became very ill and was hospitalized just outside of Denver, Co. During his 5 year stay the two corresponded back and forth through letters. After graduating from High School in 1948 Loretta began working for the Jackson City Farm Bureau and then went on to work for the State of Illinois office in Springfield. Easter of 1951 Loretta went to Colorado pay Walt a visit. Before she could go into his room the doctor stopped her and warned her that he would never leave the hospital and she needed to go home and forget about him. She said to the doctor “This is Christian Hospital, Don't you believe in the power of the Lord?” Loretta went home and began to pray! In July her prayers were answered, Walt received the necessary surgery from a V. A. doctor that flew in from Chicago. In October of 1951 Walter sent Loretta and engagement ring along with a cross pendent (he wanted to make sure to include the Lord) November 11, 1951 Loretta Dale and Walter Mueller, Jr. were married in Murphysboro, Illinois. Walt graduated from college and the two set out for New Mexico with all their worldly possessions and their Cocker Spaniel “Buster”. Both found jobs but just after a month Walter was injured and hospitalized again, this time in the V. A. Hospital in Albuquerque. Loretta packed up Buster and they moved to Albuquerque, still knowing the Lord was with her. She arrived to find Walt very ill and he told her that she didn't need to be saddled down with a husband that would be in the hospital for years. Loretta did what she had to do, found a room for rent ($5), got a part time job so that she could spend afternoons with Walt and prayed! 2 years later the Lord blessed them with their 2nd miracle, he was released. They bought their 1st house and 9 years later adopted their 1st of two sons, Walter Scott. A little over 3 months later, In November of 1960 Loretta was hospitalized and diagnosed with Streptococcus Meningitis. Loretta ,still faithful had her prayers answered and she was completely healed (Miracle # 3). In 1961 Walt was promoted and the family of 3 moved to Houston, Texas. Almost 1 Scott became very ill and doctor sent the family to Texas Children's Hospital where they found his CO 2 count was very low. After several days at the hospital Loretta returned home for a quick restock of clothes and a nap. When she arrived at their newly built home there was a strong smell of gas. After further investigation, 5 gas leaks were found. It was a miracle that they had survived! The Lord again was watching over them. In June of 1964, 3 years later they were blessed with their 2nd son David Walter. Loretta became the active mom! She was the homeroom mom, the tutor mom and the mom that made everything from cookies to presents for the high school Football team. She loved cooking, crafting, sewing and entertaining. She took care of Walt's insurance agency parties and the boys friends. At some point she quit calling the boys friends by their names and gave each of them a number, it was just easier for her to remember. Between 1988 and 1997 she was blessed with 3 granddaughters and she loved each one of them unconditionally. She made their lives and the lives around her special!

In 2004 Walt had signed the 2 of them up for an artery body scan with a mobile unit at the local church, she wasn't to happy about the whole thing but she went. Loretta's scan revealed a grapefruit sized aorta aneurism, surgery immediately followed. Loretta chalked it up to another miracle from our Lord.

Christmas Eve 2006 Loretta began itching internally, she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. On January 19, 2007 her Oncologist successfully performed the “Whipple Surgery”. She praised the Lord for yet another one of his amazing miracles (miracle #4). Loretta stayed cancer free for over 5 years. In 2012 Loretta was diagnosed with cancer in her left lung. March of that year she had the small growth removed. Loretta survived for 2 more years on faith and prayers. This is from her personal memoirs:

“I have cancer in my body...somewhere....I have no idea where but I have faith that the Lord my God is still looking after me. After all the greatest miracle of all is passing from life temporal to life eternal!-AMEN”

Loretta was a devout Christian and held dual church memberships. She was a member for 52 years at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas and 27 years at Joy Lutheran Church in Richmond, Texas.

Loretta left a special poem for us to share (by John Mooney) here is a portion:

“...To my family and friends

Please be thankful today

I'm still close beside you

in a new special way

I love you all dearly

now don't shed a tear

Cause I'm spending my Christmas

with Jesus this year”

Loretta is survived by:

Husband: Walter Mueller Jr, of Richmond, Tx

Son: Walter Scott Mueller of Richmond, Tx

Son and daughter in law: David and Eva Mueller of Houston, Texas

Granddaughters: Leah Mueller, Lindsey Mueller and Lexis Mueller all of Houston, Texas

Brother in law and Family: Jerry Mueller of Hemet, Calif.

Sister in law and Family: Yvonne Mueller Robe of Chester, Illinois.

Brother: Richard Gardner and Family of Australia

And many other family members and close friends

Loretta is proceeded in death by:

Mother: Marie E. Mumbower

Father: Reba Gardner

Pallbearers:

Fred Tonn of Houston, Texas

Bobby Barnes of Richmond, Texas

Jim Ashmore of Richmond, Texas

Tom Holton of Richmond, Texas

Christian Mueller Hemet, California

Doug Parks of Minneapolis, Minnesota

Tom Brown of Richmond, Texas