Mueller, Caroline (1886-1972)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Dec 7 p. 8

Birth date: 1886 Feb 23

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Jan 4 p. 11

CAROLINE MUELLER

Caroline Mueller, the youngest of 12 children of Heinrich and Katherine Weber Mueller, was born on Feb. 23, 1886 at Kothau, Bavaria, Germany, and died Dec. 3, 1972 at Bethel Home for Aged, Newton, Kan., after a long illness. She reached the age of 86 years, nine months, and 10 days.

When she was six months of age, the family came to America for a brief stay, returning to Germany after a few weeks. In May 1902 they returned to America to make their home on a farm near Halstead, Kan., from which they moved to town in 1915.

While she was still living in Germany, Caroline was baptized by Rev. Baer upon her confession of faith. After moving to America, she joined the First Mennonite Church of Halstead, where she continued her membership until her death. She was active in Sunday school and the Women’s Mission Society as long as her health permitted.

On Mar. 1, 1919 she entered the Halstead Hospital School of Nursing from which she was graduated in 1921. She was employed at the Halstead Hospital for 40 years, first as the first annex supervisor, and later as a special nurse. “Aunt Caroline," as she was known, was an inspiration to the many student nurses with whom she worked. As a special nurse she was skillful, selfless, and dedicated, working cheerfully and tirelessly, thinking only of her patients’ welfare. She is remembered with gratitude by many whom she nursed back to health.

Whenever there was sickness or need in her family, she gave unstintingly of her time and skill, nursing a number of the family members during their final illnesses.

Her relationship with some of her nieces and nephews was a close and warm one. With Katherine, she served as a mother to her niece and nephew, Edna and Waldo Mueller, after their mother passed away when they were still young. She was like a grandmother to Waldo and Jean’s four children. After she had nursed her niece, Marie Mueller Mosiman, during her final illness, she was adopted by the Mosimans as a part of their family.

On Feb. 14, 1967 she entered the Bethel Home for Aged, where she was joined in 1968 by her sister Katherine.

She is survived by her sister Katherine, a sister-in-law, Mrs. Elisabeth Mueller, 19 nieces and nephews and their families, the families of three nieces and nephews who preceded her in death, and many friends.

Funeral services were conducted on Dec. 6 at the First Mennonite Church of Halstead, conducted by Rev. Robert Suderman and assisted by Chaplain Jerry Griffin of the Bethel Deaconess Hospital and Bethel Home for Aged, Newton.