Donald Michael Mueller, 78

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Donald Michael Mueller, 78, of Yukon, Okla., died Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, at his home with his wife present.

A private family interment will be at the family farm in Nebraska in the spring.

Don was born Jan. 12, 1936, in Kennard on the original family farm homestead settled by his grandfather 125 years ago. He was German and proud of this family heritage.

He was a graduate and salutatorian of Kennard High School. He also attended Glendale Community College in Glendale, Ariz.

Don proudly served in the U.S. Army for two years. When honorably discharged, he returned to the family farm and began his 38-year career with Western Electric/AT&T/Lucent. His career took him from Omaha to Merrimack Valley, Phoenix and then to Oklahoma City, Okla. At retirement, he was the supervisor of the storeroom at Lucent.

Anyone who knew Don knew that he loved football and that Nebraska football was his favorite pastime. His Nebraska heritage is reflected in his home, his truck and pictures in the computer room. Don had the same Nebraska football season tickets for 50 years. He often could not attend the games but purchased them anyway and would share the tickets with his best friend in Nebraska. No one would doubt that he loved his home state, football and farming.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Hilda Mueller; first wife of 27 years, Lorene Mueller, with whom he had two children: Susan and Michael.

Also of worthy mention is his beloved black lab, Butters. Butters and Don were the greatest of friends and well-known walkers in the Parkland II area. Butters was devoted to Don, and the Mueller family truly misses her presence.

Survivors include wife Linda Mueller of the home in Yukon; daughter Susan Hampton and husband Wade of Holiday Island, Ark.; son Michael Mueller of Clarksdale, Ind.; Linda's children: Lara Dyan Mitchell of Tulsa, Okla., and David Mitchell of Lexington, Okla.; grandchildren: Monique Renee Mueller of Phoenix, Ariz., and Samantha Don Mueller of Rogers, Ark.; sister Ardith Pounds of Blair; and brother-in-law Ron Curry and wife Kim of Yukon. Don also had numerous other relatives in Nebraska.

We thank you, Don, for being a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. You will be missed forever but we will hold you in our hearts forever. We had a plan for the day you passed away but I guess God had others plans. Thank you for 25 years of marriage. Until we meet again ... I will love you for all the rest of the days of my life.

Memorial donations may be made in Don's memory to Pets & People, 701 Inla St., Yukon, OK 73099.

Arrangements are under the direction of Yanda & Son Funeral Home in Yukon.

Online condolences may be signed at www.yandafuneral.com.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~