Pat Mueller Obituary

Thanks for showing all of us what it means to grab life by the horns and live to the fullest. We all carry you with us every day on our journeys. I am forever grateful that you are my grandma.

Love,
Brooke

Missing you like crazy, Mom

Hi Pat. I know you're there, waiting for me and keeping track of me until I arrive. Happy birthday to my older sister.

Sept 25 is Mom's birthday and I wish she was here to celebrate it. I miss her so much and think of her everyday. She has not altogether left us. She is still with us in memories, so that wherever we are, no matter what time of day is is or how we are feeling, she is here, still shining the light of her love upon us. Happy Birthday, Mom!

Whether I like it or not, the first year has passed. One whole year without my mom who filled my heart up with love. My grief still feels fresh and painful. Your influence still guides me and I still feel you near. Remembering you is easy, I do it everyday. Dad and I enjoy looking at the trip pictures and seeing your smiling face. We will be planting the zinnias soon on the back patio so we can remember you and your love for flowers. In a few weeks, Kelly and Amanda will be getting married, and everyone will be wishing you and Dad were there. But I know you'll be watching and smiling. I miss you Mom.

A year has passed since that terrible day we lost you. I have been reflecting a lot recently and realize that so much of my life involves things you taught me, either directly or indirectly.
Just last week, I bought a pair of gold shoes. Yesterday, Mark and I went to a baseball game. It is an activity I love, and I got that from you and Dad.
The other day, I made some clam dip - a recipe from you. I love classic movies and I can't wait for my visit with Dad, so we can curl up together on the couch and watch some.
But I have never missed you so much as I did three weeks ago, when Mark's mother passed away. It was a sad and stressful time and I sure could have used your wisdom and perspective.
I think about you every day and miss you as much today as I did a year ago. I only hope I have inherited even a fraction of your grit, intelligence and compassion. Love you so much.

Missing you a lot today, grandma. It's been almost a year but today I'm thinking about how you made me laugh and feel loved. I was so fortunate to have such a beautiful, funny, caring, and wise grandmother. I miss you so much. I love you.

Hi, big sister. I just wanted to remind you that you're still my OLD sis - by three and a half years. I know you are keeping tabs on things now, just as you always did when you were here, so we can't get away with stuff. I'll be joining you some day, knowing you will have my agenda already lined up for me, just as you always did - no sense arguing about it. Just don't counting on our next reunion coming very soon. Until then, know that we love you.
your little brother, Jim

Happy birthday, mom! It's hard to believe it's been 5 months since she passed away. Every day I remember different parts of growing up with her. A few weeks ago Brooke made ooey gooey butter cake, and Amanda reminded me of a visit to Colorado Springs to see her. Lots of memories of good times with family and good food!

Mom, it's been almost 5 months since you left us for a better place. I miss you and think about you every day, but especially yesterday, your birthday.
I remember birthdays always being a big deal in our family, particularly for you and me. In September, we were, more often than not, the "new kids on the block", so celebrating with family was important. You always tried to make our day extra special and I hope the rest of us did the same for you.
My heart hurts with missing you, and I can only imagine what Dad is going through. He is being so strong, though, you would be proud.
I love and miss you so very much.

Today would have been mom's 82nd birthday. It's been almost 5 months since she left us, and the truth is I'm still heartbroken. I feel as if a part of me has died and no one can ever make it right. Since today is your birthday, mom, and we would have celebrated in some way, I cannot let it go without some mark of this day. To keep you close and remember you. I still hear your voice and see your face. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you, miss you, love you, and thank God that I was blessed to be your daughter. So Happy Birthday, mom. Til we meet again.

There are so many wonderful memories in my mind of my mother that I can pull up a new one each day and keep her in my heart. She was a beautiful person inside and out.
I remember she always came to stay with us for 2 weeks after my babies were born. She did all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry while I rested ...what a lifesaver! She gave me many ideas for dinner over the phone when we lived in Idaho. After moving to Colorado Springs over a year ago, I was blessed to be able to spend lots of time with mom and dad. Baking brownies together, taking her to the hair salon where Hilda did her magic, shopping for purses and shoes at Steinmart, cutting flowers and herbs from the back patio and picking cherry tomatoes by the bowlful. Her skill at arranging flowers is something I wish I had inherited! What I now realize is that the hours we spent together last summer going through boxes of memorabilia and travel folders, included some of the most precious memories I have of her. I learned so much about her life, her interests, her dreams that I never knew. Fascinating!
My mom taught me there is nowhere more important than home. It is a reflection of all that we are and all that we love. When I close my eyes and think about my life and what is important to me, one of my first images is of mom, preparing a meal for her family, setting the table with a tablecloth, plates, napkins, a candle, and usually fresh flowers.
Mom, I live every single day of my life inspired and motivated by everything you have taught me. I loved you so very much and miss you even more. What I wouldn't give to kiss you on the cheek, give you a hug, and whisper I love you one more time.

Pat Mueller was a great influence on me personally. Not only was she very tough and strong but she also was kind, humorous, feisty, sassy, and loved her family deeply. Her love for travel, cooking, and caring for her husband and family was always so evident. I always look to her as the matriarch of our family as a perfect example of creating a loving home for a family. I always loved going to grandma's house and sitting down for a family meal and watching a baseball game. She created a place for all her posterity to gather and create memories and I am so grateful for all of them that I get to cherish forever.

Pat Mueller was one of the strongest, most influential women in my life and she, without question, impacted everyone who was lucky enough to know her. Her fierce loyalty and love of family sticks out particularly in my mind. When describing Grandma Pat, I love to include her colorful and playful shoes because to me that represented her love of life and playful spirit. She was never, ever afraid to share her honest opinion, a trait I'm finding to be more and more rare in people. She and Grandpa Don passed on their travel bug and wanderlust to me, but she in particular showed me all that can be gained from exploring the world throughout all stages of life as a woman. I love you and miss you Grandma Pat!

I will miss Pat's humor, intellect, and beauty. Three things that are rarely found in the same person. I was always made to feel part of your family and I am so glad your daughter has allowed me be that for the last 22 years. We had a lot of good times but the one that stands out to me was our rafting trip down the Arkansas river. You were the smart one who stayed in the guide boat while the rest of us wound up nearly drowning in the high rushing waters! Thank you for never slowing down and for always having a cold beverage in the fridge!

Love Denny

What a privilege it was for me to be the cardiologist for this remarkable woman. I have taken care of many patients with congestive heart failure, but none like Pat. This disease still has a 5 year mortality rate of 50%. Pat survived with a very weak heart for almost 20 years. She was bright, courageous, and determined to live life to the fullest despite this heart condition. The first time I had her enter Hospice care, she survived and literally "graduated" out the program almost a year later. I was never so delighted to be proven wrong about my estimation of someone's lifespan. Without a doubt, Don's ever present love and support had much to do with Pat beating the odds for so many years. I will miss her.

Don,
We were so sorry to hear of Pat's passing. We were very fond of her and how kind she was in providing "her boys"(Air Force Academy cadets) a home away from home. There is a special place in heaven for a lady like Pat.
Most sincerely,
Priscilla (Scott Oss' mother-in-law)

Don,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I have no words to express how you must feel, losing your friend, world traveler, buddy, and wife. Pat was a real original. What you both did for years - counseling and mentoring those cadets from the Academy was a touch of real class. I sincerely thank you for my son-in-law Scott Oss. Scott always talked about you and Pat and I was really appreciative of what you did. Thank you Don and good luck.

My sister-in-law Pat and I had a good relationship. One of my fondest memories was our "flamingos connection". This started from a visit through her neighborhood in which she pointed out a home that had "everything except a pink flamingo" in the yard.From then on ever time I saw a pink flamingos item I thought of Pat and many of them ended up delivered to their home. Some examples were a 5 foot stuffed flamingos, yard decorations, dishes, door mat and mailbox cover. Such fun! Will miss her greatly.

Pat

Although our time together was limited it was always funny and spirited. I always felt like we connected on the lighter side of life, playing off of each other's silliness. Also I very much appreciated yours and Don's generosity, not just to me but more so to my wife Carolyn. The way you both impacted and shaped her life through generosity and LOVE is too immense to count and means more to the both of us than you'll ever know. So for that and so many other things I say THANK YOU. Pat you will be sorely missed by myself and so many others.

Ryan

I can not find the words to express my gratitude to the Muellers who provided me and friends our 'home away from home' in Colorado Springs. The memories are endless and I was so happy to be a part of the ceremony honoring the Muellers for their service to AFA baseball last year. They define the words "selfless" and the world lost one of the best in Pat.
My sincere condolences to Col Mueller and all her loved ones.

Bobby Johnson

Grandma,

Even though you're gone, you will remain with me and the rest of your grandkids forever. I will always remember your hilarious and off-the-wall comments that made everyone laugh. You were so beautiful and funny which made everyone so happy to be around you. I remember my very first sleepover away from home was at your and Grandpa's house. We went out and fed carrots to the horses and played tea and you showed me all your stuffed animals. I was really homesick but I felt comforted by your presence. That sleepover was the first of many and even though I didn't live close to you for very long, the memories I made at your house will last forever. Every single time I visited, we would always check on my sugar dish and you would reassure me that I would inherit the dish when you passed. Well now you're gone and I wish we had you still, but I will always remember you when I look at that sugar dish and see the colored sugars inside.

Thank you for being so hard working and teaching me that grammar is important but wearing fun clothes is more important. Thank you for raising my mom and teaching her how to take care of a family. I'm so blessed to have been your granddaughter and I hope I will make you proud. I will never drink a manhattan without thinking of you.

I love you and miss you,

Kelly xoxo

Grandma,
You were so wonderful, in so many ways. You and grandpa taught me to love classic movies, make awesome sandwiches, try new things, enjoy wine, enjoy travel, enjoy life, and embrace adventures. I love Tony Bennett and the Peanuts thanks to you, and I always loved hearing your hilarious stories. You always made me laugh. I will miss your fun sparkly shoes, and how you always made sure everyone was taken care of and that we all washed our hands :) . The traditions in my childhood around Christmas come from you and Grandpa, and I can never thank either of you enough for showing me a safe, loving, stable home where fun and laughter is allowed and encouraged. Thanks for everything, and even these words will never be enough. I love you so deeply and I am so sad you are gone... xoxo

Carolyn

Grandma, I will miss you so much. You made me laugh, feel loved, and feel lucky to have such a beautiful and wise grandmother that I got to see every week. There was never a dull moment with you. I'll always remember you sitting in that chair of yours reading or watching baseball or drinking white wine. You will be missed, but your life is a legacy of love, dedication, and living life to the fullest that I wish to mirror. I love you.

My sympathy to you Don. I remember Pat from the time I visited you in Colorado Springs in the 1990's. We went out to lunch and you showed me your telescope and lens shop. I am sorry that we did not meet again. I hope we can meet in the future.

I miss my big sister. I remember growing up in South St. Louis in a four family flat on Morganford Road. We saw movies at the Ar-Mo outdoor theater. We ice skated on our front lawn one winter following a rare storm that dumped thick ice. We had many brother-sister squabbles that lasted into adulthood, but through it all, we knew we loved each other.
She was always planning ahead for everyone, like it or not, but I got even with her on one of our trips to Colorado Springs. A Moberly, MO. man who I knew became the coach of the Olympic table-tennis team, training at the Olympic center in Col. Spgs. I arranged a sight-seeing trip with him, and then lunch with the athletes, unbeknownst to Pat, then suggested we tour the facility with my wife, Arlene, and Don. Pat said it wouldn't be much of a tour because the public wasn't allowed to wee much. You should have seen her face when we barged right in, greeted by my friend. Only time I got the better of my big sister...with the exception of our croquet games. But that's another story.
I will miss you, Pat, but I will cherish the time we had together.








We

Pat may qualify as my best patient in history. Always cooperative, always appreciate. We will miss her.

Scott already said a lot and everything he said was 100% accurate. Col and Mrs. Mueller opened their home to scores of cadets over the years. It was such a fun place to be. An Air Force Colonel, his wife, parenting, grandparenting, baseball fans, world travelers, world experiencers...they set the example for us. There are so many great memories from the baseball team's time at Mrs. Mueller's house. The perfect sponsors, period, dot. I Love Col and Mrs. Mueller.

Despite the feelings of heavy heartedness, I have the most wonderful memories of Mrs. Mueller. She was like a second mom to many of us and always welcomed us into her home. She and Colonel Mueller were the best complimentary opposites one could possible imagine. I will forever remember crashing on the couch with Mike, Mark and Mrs. Mueller watching the Braves play on TBS. I will also always remember coming over in the fall to find both of them dressed in their Bronco jerseys and throwing the Bronco bricks at the TV. Those were some of the best times and she was always so kind even after she gave you the business. I remember stomping pop cans on the back patio for her and gazing at planets and stars during the evening through Colonel Mueller's telescopes. I remember them traveling to Florida to watch us play during spring break and catching up with them twenty years after graduation at our reunion. I loved reading her long letters describing the wonderful vacations they took to Europe with their elder hostile groups and the Christmas cards every year. Denise and I will miss her dearly. God bless you Mrs. Mueller as you celebrate in heaven with the angels.

My deepest sympathy to all family members. I was delighted to meet Don, Pat and their 3 children in 1965 when I was going to Air Force Tech school in Denver. Wonderful family. May God shine upon all of you forever.

With sadness I am reminded of the early days we shared at the Air Force Academy and the skiing in Breckenridge.

Pat was a wonderful next-door of ours for the past 37 years and would frequently share herbs with us from her garden. She greatly enjoyed her kids & gran-kids. We will miss her!