LeRoy Mueller

Rev. LeRoy Mueller, age 85, of Ortonville, passed away on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at the Northridge Residence in Ortonville.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ortonville with Pastor Dennis O'Neill and Pastor David Strohschein officiating.

Visitation is Monday, May 27th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Mundwiler and Larson Funeral Home in Ortonville, MN. Burial will be in the Mound Cemetery.

Rev. LeRoy Frederick Mueller was born into a loving Christian home on September 19, 1927 in Elmore, MN, to Rev. Martin C.A. and Anna (Rittmueller) Mueller. LeRoy was the youngest of eight children. His siblings were: Armin, Hilda, Ray, Will, Norman, Milton, and Dorothy. LeRoy felt the call to become a minister by the 6th grade. He attended St. John Lutheran School until 8th grade, and then went to Dr. Martin Luther Academy in New Ulm from 1941 to 1943. He finished high school at St. Paul Concordia Academy, where he was active in many activities including football, baseball, choir, and tennis. His enjoyment of sports continued throughout his life, including watching the Twins with his children while in the nursing home.

He attended Concordia Junior College in St. Paul and then entered Concordia Theological Seminary at St. Louis, MO. From July 1950 to July 1951, LeRoy served St. John's Lutheran Church in Elgin, Il. for his vicarage. LeRoy married Carol Messerli on August 25, 1951 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul. LeRoy and Carol had met and started dating while LeRoy was at Concordia in St. Paul. They headed back to seminary in St. Louis where LeRoy graduated in June 1952.

LeRoy was ordained by his father at Trinity Lutheran Church in Casey, Illinois on July 20, 1952. He also served at Concordia Church, Marshall, Illinois during this time. While at Casey three children where born to Carol and LeRoy: Marilyn, Jeanette, and David. In 1956, LeRoy accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran Church in Huntley, Illinois. Here two more children were born to Carol and LeRoy: Jonathan and Kathleen. In 1965, LeRoy felt the Lord's call to move to Odessa, Minnesota. He served Trinity Lutheran Church in Odessa and Grace Lutheran Church in Correll until 1972. Once again he was called to serve, this time at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Duluth. While in Duluth he was elected as secretary of Minnesota North District at the 1978 convention, serving for many years. During their time in Duluth LeRoy and Carol enjoyed their work in the church and time with their family, including many family fishing trips. In October of 1990, LeRoy and Carol moved back to the Ortonville and Odessa area for retirement. He continued to serve the Lord in many ways, filling pastoral vacancies at Trinity Lutheran in Ortonville, MN, and also churches in Madison, MN, Corona and Wilmot, SD, and in Synnes Township, MN. The Lord called Carol, his wife of 42 years, home in 1994. LeRoy married Janice Voltz Bellinger on October 1, 1997.

LeRoy was a man passionate about all of life! He enjoyed fishing and gardening, hobbies which were learned from his parents. He loved to sing, especially Christmas and Easter hymns. In retirement, he found joy in having the time to cook all the recipes he had been given from women in the church's ladies aide! LeRoy learned how to silver smith in Milan, MN, with his daughters Marilyn and Kathy. Above all, LeRoy genuinely loved all people – he never failed to find the good in everyone he met. His faith was strong and he continued to serve his Lord and minister to others until he was called home on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Rev. LeRoy is survived by his wife Janice of Ortonville, MN; his brother, Wilbert (Isabelle) of West Bend, WI; his children: Marilyn (Dallas) Hanson of Ortonville, MN; Jeanette Alexander-Mueller of Phoenix, AZ; David (Diane) Mueller of Cloquet, MN; Jonathan (Sue) Mueller of Champlin, MN; and Kathy (Tom) Nardi of St. Cloud, MN; Janice' children, whom he considered his own: Mark (Bobbie) Bellinger of Chicago, IL; Marie (Frank) O'Neill of Chicago, IL; Laura (Kerry) Holtz of Olney, IL; Gary (Barb) Bellinger of Oswego, IL; Cathy (Bruce) Stewart of Lawrenceville, IL; and Dorothy Ahlfield of Fort Madison, IA: twenty three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.