Joan Mueller

Joan Ruth Mueller, 91 years old, passed away peacefully on May 26, 2025, at HeatherWood Assisted Living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Joan was born on May 21, 1934, in Eau Claire, to Emma (Preston) and Walter Lindgren; the youngest of five siblings. She graduated from Eau Claire Senior High School in 1952 and married Vern Mueller on October 14, 1959, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. During their life together Vern and Joan shared a bounty of joy, minimal sorrow and many October road trips to celebrate their anniversary.

Joan lived most of her youth on the family hobby farm near Truax in Eau Claire County and often spoke fondly about attending Eau Claire Bears baseball games with her father, including the summer Henry Aaron was on the team. Shortly after their marriage, Joan and Vern moved to Eau Claire's Eastside Hill neighborhood. In addition to raising two sons, Joan worked for Uniroyal, First Presbyterian Church, and a local funeral home. She served as a Cub Scout den mother and in various other volunteer capacities while her sons attended Boyd Elementary School. Joan's commitment to volunteering continued into retirement, volunteering with STEP Force to assist patients as they moved within the hospital, and later providing hair care to the women residents of Dove Healthcare nursing home.

Golf and bowling were two of Joan's favorite activities. She didn't hit'em long or roll'em hard, but both balls went straight down the middle. She was a voracious reader, reading several books a week up until her passing. Joan enjoyed watching Packer games and Badger basketball. She looked forward to watching the Wisconsin boys and girls state basketball tournaments every March. Joan and Vern spent many summer and fall days at their trailer on Red Cedar Lake. Joan was most fond of spending time with her grandsons, jumping at every opportunity to watch their baseball and hockey games; often traveling many miles to do so. Great grandma Joan was thrilled to meet and hold her great granddaughter, little Ada James.

Joan is survived by her son, Bradley (Nancy) Mueller, of Oak Park, IL, and their sons, Bradley Mueller, Jr. (Liz Burke) of Golden Valley, MN, and Jack Mueller (Michaela Brotherton) of Bridgton, ME, the parents of great granddaughter, Ada Mueller.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband and her parents; her son, Kurt Mueller; her brothers and their spouses, Allen (Jean) Lindgren and Richard (Marcia) Lindgren; her sisters and their spouses, Carol (Keith) Sommerfeld and Virginia (Gene) Charlier; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Johnson.

Joan's family is forever grateful for the compassionate and caring individuals from the Mayo Clinic Hospice who provided kind, loving and thoughtful care and companionship to Joan as well as gracious support for her family. Her family is also thankful for the care and assistance provided by the HeatherWood Assisted Living staff during her short stay.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, June 13, 2025, at HeatherWood Assisted Living (2nd floor chapel), 4510 Gateway, Dr., Eau Claire, WI. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 3:00p.m., with Chaplain Jed Watson presiding.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, please consider a donation to the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library or Hope Gospel Mission.