Ila Mae Mueller
Ila Mae Mueller, 85, of Monona, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, at Great River Care Center in McGregor. Mae was born on Feb. 18, 1937. She was the youngest of four children born to Esther (Bahls) and Elmer Hoth. She was raised on a farm and had many memorable experiences of country life as a child. She attended Hanover Country School and Garnavillo Public School.
Mae met the love of her life, Ronald Mueller, at Lakeside Ballroom. They both loved dancing and had many good times together. They were married on June 13, 1957, and enjoyed 57 years of marriage until Ronnie’s passing in December 2014. Through this union, they had two sons, Jeffrey and Steven.
Mae and Ronnie enjoyed dancing, listening to polka, playing cards and gardening. They had a beautiful garden and loved sharing their produce with others. However, their greatest joy was fishing. They had a cabin in Harpers Ferry where they fished on the Mississippi and developed many friendships. In addition, they loved watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs. In their later years, they adopted two cats, Max and Blondie, which brought them so much joy and companionship.
One thing her family will cherish was coming home for family gatherings to an amazing feast. She was an excellent cook. Of these, Christmas and Mother’s Day were always a special time at her home.
Mae is survived by her sons, Jeff (Mary) Mueller of La Crosse, Wis., and Steve (Kathy) Mueller of Elkader. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Aleecia (Josh) Heindel, Monica (Gabe) Halvorsen, Jenny (Andy) Shulha and Mike (Cameron) Mueller, Jess (Jed) Dean, Greg (Shannon) Mueller and Becky (Steven) Gilmore, and 20 great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her sister, Marlene Marmann, and sisters-in-law, Donnnabelle Hartz and Connie Lenth.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ronald, her brothers Eugene (Janice) Hoth and Vernon (Gen) Hoth and brother-in-law Allan Dale Marmann, as well as her father and mother-in-law Hank and Margaret Mueller, her sister-in-law Marlene (Leo) Weiser, brothers-in-law Norman (Maggie) Mueller, Henry “Sonny” (Donna) Mueller, Roger Mueller, Herb Hartz and Gary Lenth.
The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff at the Great River Care Center for their care and compassion.
Visitation was held on Sept. 11, at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Monona. Funeral service was Sept. 12, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luana, with Vicar Jeremy Wolfe as the officiant. Burial followed at St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona is assisting the family with arrangements.
