Obituary of Joseph F. Mueller

Joseph F. Mueller was born Feb 25, 1925, in Maplewood, N.J. and graduated in 1939 from St. Joseph's School, Maplewood, and then Seton Hall Prep. On the day of graduation from the Prep at age 19, Mr. Mueller enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces, and trained in Texas, assigned to the 35th Infantry Cannon Company Tank Destroyer Unit. He participated in the invasion of Omaha Beach, France, in 1944 and fought until the war's end. He was awarded the Bronze Star on Oct 4, 1944, for saving a wounded soldier's life, and also the Combat Infantryman's Badge for battle efficiency. Back home, Mr. Mueller decided to partner with his father in the Frank J. Mueller Florist business in Newark, N.J. until its closing in the 1970's. He was then employed by Caldwell College as superintendent of buildings and grounds until his retirement. Mr. Mueller and his wife, Rose, moved to Vero Beach, Fla., and then Palm Coast, Fla. For the past 10 years, he had lived with his son, Joseph, and his grandson, Justin, in Raleigh, N.C., where he died on Jan. 20, 2015. Mr. Mueller leaves his loving wife, Rose; his son, Joseph and grandson, Justin, of Raleigh, N.C.; his daughter, Barbara and son-in-law, Stephen Lukowski, of Jacksonville, Fla., and his sister, Sister Gerardine, a Caldwell Dominican Sister. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at St. Joseph's Church, 767 Prospect St., Maplewood, on Monday, Jan 26, at 10:30 a.m. Interment is at St. Mary's Cemetery, East Orange, N.J. Visitation will be held at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home 2122 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, on Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. For more information or to send condolences, please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com