Joyce M. Mueller, 87, Sauk Rapids

April 20, 1930 - May 20, 2017

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 26, 2017 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home Chapel in Sauk Rapids for Joyce Mueller who died Saturday at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Sauk Rapids. Rev. Gerald Dalseth will officiate. Burial will be at a later date at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Gaylord. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Friday at the chapel in Sauk Rapids.

Joyce was born in Wales, ND to Ernest & Victoria (Campbell) Chaput, after her brother and before her sister. She was of paternal French Canadian heritage, and her mother was a 2nd generation Norwegian and Scot. She completed training as a medical x-ray technician in Mpls before she married James. She married James H. Mueller on August 22, 1952. They raised six children, had thirteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She joined A.A. in 1980, divorced and returned to college to become licensed as a drug and alcohol counselor. Joyce loved her family and was especially devoted to her grandchildren. She was there for every event in their lives. She was a fiercely independent woman who enjoyed being in control of her own destiny. She always made it through the obstacles she endured throughout her life. She was very creative. She enjoyed making different clothing and costumes for her family over the years. She enjoyed playing cards (especially Bridge), dancing and music. She was the organist and music director at her church in Gaylord many years ago. She was encouraging to her children and really close to her father. She loved animals and had many pets over the years including dogs, cats and birds. She would put seed out for her birds every day. She enjoyed traveling and made trips to Germany and Thailand that were great times in her life. She was a devout Catholic and had a strong devotion to the Mass and Eucharist as well as the sacraments. She was a strong supporter to certain charities, two very important ones to her were the Smile Train and Wounded Warrior.

Survivors include her children, Julie Mueller of Mpls, Martha (Paul) Marrinan of Sauk Rapids, Jamie (Rick) Thiessen of Clearwater, Cathy (Steve Dresler) Mueller of Chico, CA, Anthony (Janet) Mueller of Littleton, CO; daughter-in-law, Andrea of Mesa, AZ; 13 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Michael in 2015; brother, Ron; sister, JoAnn Beckman; and former husband James.