James Mueller

MUELLER, James Calvin Sr., husband, father, grandfather, stepfather, brother in-law, uncle, granduncle, dog daddy and friend to many, passed away suddenly on August 5th, 2022. James, known to most as Jim, and to some as Jimmy, was born in 1942. He was the son of the late Evelyn Westervelt and Jacob Mueller of Old Tappan, NJ. He was preceded in death by his caring wife of 41 years, Susan B. Whitley-Mueller as well as his only sister, whom he deeply loved, Karen Kelly.

Jim graduated from Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest, NJ class of 1959. After serving in the Air Force, Jim pursued his life’s work by joining the Jersey City, NJ Fire Department. He served the city for the rest of his career, becoming a Battalion Chief, Training Officer and Lead Fire Inspector Instructor. Being a firefighter and first responder embodied who Jim was. He viewed himself as an aid to those in need. When asked about this dangerous work, he said, “I’ve always wanted to help others, I put that first, I don’t know any other way.”

To his credit, while working shifts, Jim attended Jersey City State College, obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Safety and a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Prevention and Safety Technology. With these degrees he also taught prospective firefighters at the Bergen County Fire Academy in Mahwah, NJ. As a resident of Westwood, NJ, for over 25 years, Jim served on various committees related to fire prevention and volunteered for Rotary. His favorite activity was to go into the schools and teach children how to respond in case of fire. He particularly loved to encourage them to "Stop! Drop! And Roll!"; enjoying how vigorously they took to this fun, yet, lifesaving drill. His pleasures, which he took very seriously, were loyalty to the New York Rangers and the New York Giants.

Jim loved his dogs; his Labrador Retrievers, Cheyenne, Maverick and Jake. Nothing pleased him more than driving his truck with a dog by his side. After retiring from the fire department, he and Susan settled in Pawleys Island, SC. Here he finally had the time to putter around the house, tinker in his garden, do some woodworking and watch old westerns into the night. He joined the Pawleys Island Rotary Club and availed himself again to teach fire safely.

He loved and cherished his time with his family and sadly, but with wonderful memories, leaves behind his son, James C. Mueller Jr.; his nephew, James Kelly and his wife, Nicole of Portland, CT; his dear niece, Elizabeth Kelly of Bristol, CT; his step-son, Douglas Lemberg and his wife, Cheryl, of Toms River, NJ; his dear niece, Aurora Stolz and her husband Justin, of Atlanta, GA; his sister in-law, Priscilla Whitley-Matthews as well as two grandchildren and three great nieces and nephews.

Burial will take place Saturday, January 6th 11AM at the peaceful Eckerson Farm/Old Tappan Cemetery in Old Tappan, NJ, alongside his wife and parents whom he loved, as they too, loved him dearly. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy, please consider making a donation to The New Jersey Firemen's Home, 565 Lathrop Avenue, Boonton, NJ 07005 in James' name.