Susan Mueller

Susan “Sue” Mueller, 81, of Fall River, WI died very peacefully on October 20^th, 2025 at her residence in Beaver Dam. She was surrounded by her music and life’s treasures.

She was born April 22, 1944, while her father was preparing to go overseas for the war.

She is survived by her son, Steven (Eleonore) Janczak of Minneapolis, by loving grandsons, Karl and Leo Janczak, brother John Mueller (Cathy Jacob) of Cambria, WI, and niece, Anna Jacob.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rachel (Frei) Mueller of Horicon, WI, Charles Mueller of Lake Mills, WI, and dear sister, Katrinka “Trinket” Knasinski.

Sue graduated from Horicon High School and attended Milwaukee Downer College. She was an avid French horn player through her school years. She loved her parents and revered her grandmother, Ida “Nonnie” Frei, throughout her life.

In 1973 Sue found the love of her life – a rustic 70 acre farm near Fall River, WI and moved there from Green Bay. She flourished there using her trademark strength and determination to tackle the challenges of rural living. She was able to take her love of gardening and animals to a whole new level and tapped into the knowledge and perseverance of her ancestors.

Best of all, The Farm had room for more Malamutes, and lots of them at times! She raised many litters and assembled a team that was happy to pull in the wood that she split to heat the house for years. She adored Malamutes and remained involved with the breed for over 50 years. She made many amazing human friends along that dog trail too.

During the 1970’s Sue drove a truck for the Beaver Dam school system delivering food between the schools. Not a lot of moms drove truck in those days.

She went on to work for the state of Wisconsin in the Department of Health and Human Services, eventually as the director of the state’s Foster Grandparent Program. She was as proud of the accomplishments of that program as she was about her garden. She met and befriended many caring people across the state during those years. She also understood, valued, and advocated for Tribal connections and perspectives in the program.

Retirement from state service allowed her more time for family, friends, and dogs. She spent a lot of time with her mother on White Lake. They spent many Sundays playing cribbage and watching the Packers play.

Sue loved to knit and read. She enjoyed good food and was a gourmet cook herself.

She loved music! She listened to everything from Gregorian chants to the Grateful Dead, with many artists between and beyond. She enjoyed a lot of concerts with family and friends over the decades and was fortunate to see most of the iconic bands, some of them quite a few times…

Sue loved horses and everything about them. There was room on the farm for those too, and even a couple ponies for her lucky boy.

She was a Packer fan going back to her Green Bay days in the 60’s. She really was at the Ice Bowl and continued to look forward to “the game” each week as well as “next year” when the season was over.

Sue was a liberated woman going back to the days when a lot of people didn’t know what that meant. She was born on April 22, Earth Day. Perfect that she was an original Earth Mother. She took delight in living off the land and all of the sightings and experiences she had with Nature, weather, and wildlife on her place. She was able to stay at her beloved farm house as long as she possibly could with the help of fine friends, neighbors, home health people, and devoted relatives. The family is grateful for everyone who helped her to do that.

Sue was engaged with her planet every day. In recent years her disabilities kept her indoors, but she was still able to keep in touch and experience so much through people sharing their observations, thoughts, and photos along their own paths of life. She took great joy in hearing about the adventures and successes of her son and grandsons, who she loved and supported unconditionally. Her grandsons were a huge source of pride. They were both able to connect with her deeply and contribute to her life in significant and tangible ways throughout the years. The day before she stopped speaking, she commented that we “sure kept things interesting” for her. Many people did that for Sue and have been inspired themselves by her strength and knowledge.

She endured a lot of physical issues in recent years, but was never bitter and faced her situation bravely to the end- also inspiring.

Sue’s knowledge and love of rural Wisconsin lives on at a small farm west of Coloma, where the family enlists most of her tools, skills, equipment, and sense of stewardship for the benefit of the land and the wildlife. She was thrilled to learn there are now wolves there and that some of the heirloom plants from her farm and her garlic crop are carrying on. Go Sue, Go Pack!

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials supporting the Alaskan Malamute Assistance League.  Or if you are a music lover, please consider supporting WOJB radio – this is real independent radio playing real music and real information from the Lac Courte Orreilles Ojibwa. Support by listening and better yet donating at wojb.org – you will be happy you did.

There are no plans for a service at this time. A celebratory reception is being considered and the family will contact people accordingly. There will be a private inurnment at the family’s plot at Oak Hill Cemetery, Horicon, where Sue’s remains will rest with loved ones.