Kenneth W. Mueller - Obituary

Kenneth W. Mueller, 94 of Sidney, and former Potter, NE resident, passed away at the Sidney Regional Medical Center Extended Care on Sunday, September 11, 2016. Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, September 15 in the St. Paul's Lutheran Church with Pastor Bradley Heinecke officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Wednesday from 1 to 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Kenneth's name to the Potter American Legion Post 291, SRMC Hospice or the Lutheran Hour. You may view Kenneth's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Kenneth's care and funeral arrangements.

Kenneth Wayne Mueller, the oldest son of Frank and Thekla Mueller, was born on July 18, 1922, on the family farm North of Potter in Cheyenne County. He attended parochial school (grades 1 through 8) at St. Paul's Lutheran School North of their farm and was confirmed into the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod in 1936. He graduated from Sidney High School in 1940. On August 16, 1944, he enlisted in the US Army and completed his basic training in Ft. Riley, Kansas. On January 4, 1945, two days before he went into WWII, he married Eileen Cora Schultz in the St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Potter. He was assigned to the 1st Cavalry and went to Okinawa, where he fought in the Infantry. He was then shipped to Sabu-the Philippines and got hired as a Mess Sergeant. After getting orders to go to Japan with the 77th Infantry Division, 11th Airborne, he was reassigned to the 188th Parachute Infantry and promoted to Staff Sergeant. He was honorably discharged on August 29, 1946.

Kenneth was a life- long farmer and rancher in Cheyenne County and lived on the family farm until 1990, when he and Eileen moved into Sidney. He loved animals and through the years, owned cattle, pigs, geese, ducks, turkeys, chickens, dogs and cats. He served as a 4H leader and in the 60's, was trained with American Breeders Service as an artificial inseminator for cattle.

He was a member of the American Legion of Potter, The Lion's Club and also served on the Potter Day's Parade Committee.

He loved baking pies, cookies, bread and cream puffs. When he was 92, he volunteered to bake pie for 30 people at a soup supper for his church. He made them from scratch, delivered them and served them...all himself. A few months ago, he baked 22 batches of cream puffs all complete with pudding filling. He loved coloring with pencils, painting and building with balsa wood. He was clever and could solve most any handyman problems, usually with whatever he had available. He had a garden and also fed many outdoor birds. Indoors, he had a Cockatiel Bird named Pepper, who turned 22 this past week.

He loved his Lord and served him to the end. He worked on the Board of Elders, and the Board of Trustees for St. Paul's, Potter and was also a wonderful Sunday School Teacher. Later on, he joined Sidney St. Paul's and became one of the oldest members of the congregation.

Survivors are two children, Cynthia (Tom) Doggett of Aurora, CO and Tom (Glynis) Mueller of Potter; his grandchildren, Ashley (Justin) Hannant, Jesse Mueller, Breanne (Anthony) Giguere; one great grandchild, Andrew Thomas Hannant; his brothers, Donal (JoAnne) Mueller of Anchorage, AK, Rev. James (Ramona) Mueller of Yankton, SD, sister-in-law, Bertha Mueller of Sidney as well as many, many nieces, nephews and cousins. Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen, his parents, Frank and Thekla Mueller, and siblings Wesley Mueller and Jerry Mueller.