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Kenneth A. Mueller

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Funeral Services were held at 10 am Monday at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Swanville for Kenneth A. Mueller, age 83, of Long Prairie, who passed away Thursday, January 19, 2017 at CentraCare Health Systems-Long Prairie. Rev. Kevin Zellers officiated and burial was in the Hubbard Cemetery, Hubbard, Minnesota.

Kenneth Adolph “Ken” Mueller was born on January 14, 1934 to Herbert G. and Ida (Rahn) Mueller in Grandma Rahn’s house in Swanville, Minnesota. Ken was baptized and confirmed at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Swanville. As a child he lived in the Swanville and Long Prairie areas.

While working as a “sewer rat” for J & L Construction Ken went into a café, in Crookston, where he met his future wife Kathleen Grace “Kathy” Hemry. Ken and Kathy were married on November 28, 1955 in Lengby, MN. The family lived in the Lake Beauty and Pillsbury areas for 28 years. After the kids were grown Ken & Kathy moved to the Hubbard/Park Rapids, MN area where they resided until Kathy passed away April 27th, 2004. In October of 2004 Ken moved to the Clotho/Eagle Bend area, he moved to an apartment in Eagle Bend in 2009. Ken moved to the Long Prairie Nursing Home, in June of 2012, where he resided until he passed away.

Through the years Ken worked for J & L Construction as a heavy equipment driver, at an airbase in Grand Forks and at a vault company. As a young man Ken served in the Army receiving an Honorable discharge in 1958. He then worked for many local people doing farm work, cutting pulp wood and whatever else they needed help with. Later he had his own farm where he milked cows and raised crops, he also farmed with his brother Don. After Ken stopped farming he worked for Smith’s Redi Mix in Long Prairie, Cumber Construction in Park Rapids and Starry Construction in Long Prairie, retiring from Starry’s in 1993.

Ken liked to fish in his younger days, he loved to tinker with and restore his tractors, go to auctions and help his kids, family and friends with whatever he could. Ken was instrumental in the making of “Memories of the Past,” a booklet about the Swanville/Pillsbury areas. Ken had a wonderful sense of humor. He was a prankster, a joker, and loved to make people laugh. Everyone enjoyed “The Candy Man” and visiting with him at the Long Prairie Nursing Home. Ken was always looking out for his friends who also resided at the home. Most of all he loved to spend time with his family, especially his precious grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ken will be greatly missed!

Ken is survived by his children; Marty (Tammy) of Eagle Bend, MN; Loreli “Lori” (Jerald) Yourczek of Bowlus, MN; Gregory “Greg” (Carol) of Akeley, MN: and Christopher “Chris” of Akeley, MN: nine grandchildren: Melanie (Yourczek) (Greg) Cimenski, Josh (Auralia) Yourczek, Danielle, and Ashley Yourczek, Nicole (Daniel) Beach, Samantha (Kevin) Pommier, Taylor Mueller. Jamie Wicken, and Melanie Allen; 10 great grandchildren: Bethany, Hannah, Hailey, and Colten Cimenski, Vincent Kenneth, and Westley Yourczek, Kaden, Delani and Harper Beach, and Kason Pommier, and Baby Pommier; one sister: Diane (Jim) Barber of Burtrum, MN and two brothers: Elmer (Dorothy) Mueller and Donald Mueller of the Lake Beauty area.

Ken was proceeded in death by his wife, Kathy (April 27, 2004) his parents Herbert G. & Ida, one brother Harold, his daughter-in-law Mary Mueller, sister-in-law Delores Mueller, Kathy’s parents Martin and Esther (Berglund) Hemry and Kathy’s eight siblings and their spouses.