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- Robert Wylie Mueller saw the sky and started walking and we all lost a dear friend. On January 7, 2017 a talented musician slipped peacefully away surrounded by family and friends. If Wylie had written his own obituary it would have read that he was too young to die and too old to worry about it. Wylie was thankful for all his friends who have made his life so full for he believed that one could never love too much as long as that love was shared. He always tried to be a good friend and a good person.
Wylie was born December 5, 1949 in Appleton to Mary Margaret Warwick Mueller and Donald W. Mueller, Sr., the third of five children. He graduated from Appleton High School East in 1968, joined the Navy in 1969 and served his country for four years on the USS Shreveport.
On January 24, 1976, he married Mary Elizabeth Pendergast and together they raised their two children, Steven Adam and Dawn Marie.
Wylie worked for more than 35 years at North East Photocopy, but those who knew him well knew this was his "side job", his real calling and passion was his music. His first paying gig was playing with the Barons (about 1964) for the Marion Corn Roast, none of the band members were old enough to drive so their parents drove them to the gig. He played for almost twenty years with Jeanne Tooley and Night Shade (winning the Hodag in 1993); additionally he was a member of Hoppy and the Gophers, Tombstone, Striker, Cherokee Rose, Sergeant Rock, Turnstile, the Shoestrings, Buffalo Stomp, and lastly with Kopper Kreek.
Wylie was always proud of his grandchildren Sally, Matt, Cole, and Libby, Ashley, Brett and Damon. He was always excited and proud of his garden and could never wait until harvest time so he could share his crop of tomatoes with friends and co-workers. However, one of his fondest memories was the opportunity to work as a grunt for his Uncle Hurschel's business as a pipeline contractor (with his brother, Don).
Wylie was preceded in death by his wife Mary on February 27, 1986, his mother, father, and his maternal and paternal grandparents.
His soulmate Sue Gruetzmacher-Christensen and her children, Amy (Todd) Dietzler and Thom Christensen (Melissa) survive him. His children Steven and Dawn, his grandchildren Sally, Matt, Cole, Libby, Ashley, Brett and Damon, also survive him. Wylie will also live on through his two brothers; Donald (Alice) of Clintonville, William Chris of Kassel, Germany; two sisters, Marsha (Mitchell) Mueller-Sharman and Pamela Sue Mueller-Guy, both of Juneau, Alaska. He will also be remembered by many nieces, nephew, and more friends than can be counted.
Wylie's family wants to thank the many friends who gave freely of their time to assist with Wylie's care and Dr. Randhawa and her staff for their compassionate care given to Wylie.
Visitation for Wylie on January 14, 2017 starts at 2PM with the service following at 4PM at Valley Funeral Home, 2211 North Richmond St., Appleton. Interment will be at Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery at King, Wisconsin.
Although we will gather in grief and sorrow, we will also gather afterwards enjoying the music of Kopper Kreek at the Cimarron in celebration of Wylie's life. Wylie led a wonderful life here among us and we are here to share our memories and give thanks for the time we had together and to remember his voice. Let us all enjoy his company a moment longer for each of us feels the ache of loneliness caused by his passing. Tomorrow we can rejoice that he touched us, that he was a part of our lives, and together we shall all "Feed Jake".
We have established a memorial fund in Wylie's name.
(Photo courtesy of Jimmy Hendrick)
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