Myrtle Catherine Mueller's Obituary
Myrtle Catherine (Brodda) Mueller
Myrtle Catherine Mueller, age 104, of Oshkosh, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at Bethel Home in Oshkosh.
Myrtle was born February 23, 1912 in Milwaukee, the second daughter of Paul and Mary (Pommerich) Brodda. She spent her early years growing up in Fond du Lac where she met and married her life-long partner Melvin Mueller. Myrtle and Mel married on June 26, 1934 at St. Joseph’s Church in Fond du Lac and celebrated 72 years of marriage. The Muellers lived in Fond du Lac, Indianapolis, and Chicago before coming to Oshkosh in 1946. Myrtle and Mel remained in Oshkosh where they raised their family of eleven and became active in church and school activities. Since the last two children were twins, Myrtle joined and became active in the Mother of Twins Club.
After Mel began his own TV repair business in 1953, Myrtle managed the accounting and business office. Myrtle also worked at Miles Kimball from 1963 until 1982. She could have retired 5 years earlier but her supervisor asked her to stay on, saying that she would write such lovely letters from customer service that people felt it was worth having a problem just to get one of her letters.
Myrtle regularly attended services at St. Vincent Catholic Church. Those fortunate enough to have known her will remember Myrtle as one of the warmest, kindest, most generous and sweetest women they have ever known. Her compassion and charity to others was such an example to all of us.. Often when homeless persons came to her door in Chicago, Myrtle would not only give them food but when they asked for work, she had them sweep the sidewalk (whether or not it needed it), explaining it allowed them to keep their dignity.
On many Sunday afternoons Myrtle would take the bus to local nursing homes to spend time with and cheer up the lonely who had no relatives to visit them. One Thanksgiving, Myrtle asked the family to fore go the holiday feast of turkey and all the trimmings so that they could give it to another family who were going through hard times. She taught her children, through her own example, the importance of caring for people who were less fortunate.
Myrtle never missed an opportunity to supply us with puns. She cracked us up daily with her quick wit . We were continually amazed that this little woman at 104 was razor sharp with her play on words. She always made us laugh and those memories will bring a smile to our faces every time we think of her.
One daughter recently came across an original will that had a note attached to it asking her children to love each other and be kind to each other and always place their trust in God. Her children will continue to draw inspiration from her unwavering faith in God, her kindness and charity to others for many years to come.
Myrtle is survived by nine children: Thomas (Lien) of Fountain Valley, CA, Ann of La Habra, CA, Mary (Joseph) McCarthy of Rockford, IL, Stephen of Marquette, MI , Mark (Barb) of Venice, Fl , James (Julie) of Crystal Lake, IL, Richard of Lisle, IL, Claire (George) Kleinschmit of Oshkosh, and Ellen (Scott) Lewis of Racine, WI and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Melvin (June 2007), two daughters, Suzanne ( May 1983) and Judene (Dick) Bartley (Dec 2011), two daughters in law, Kay Mueller and Patricia Mueller, and her sister Ruth Braun of Fond du lac.
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to those wonderful angels of 1 East at Bethel Home that cared for her every day for the past 9 years. They were her family when we couldn't be there. What a blessing they were in Myrtle's life.
Mass of Christian Burial for Myrtle Mueller will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 11:00 am at St. Jude Catholic Church (St. Vincent Church). Father Matt Simonar will be the celebrant. Visitation will be at the church prior to the Mass beginning at 9:30 am. Internment will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Oshkosh.
What’s your fondest memory of Myrtle?
What’s a lesson you learned from Myrtle?
Share a story where Myrtle's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Myrtle you’ll never forget.
How did Myrtle make you smile?