August Christian Mueller

August “Auggie” Christian Mueller passed away on February 12, 2016, at his home in Troutdale, Oregon. Auggie was born in the family home on June 17, 1930, in Merrill, Iowa, to his parents: August and Emma (Luettke) Mueller. He attended school in Merrill until the 8th grade, but was forced to drop out to support the family subsequent to his father’s death.

From 1948 until 1951, Auggie served in the United States Navy Reserve. From 1951-1953, he served in the Navy on a destroyer during the Korean War.

After his military service, Auggie moved to Idaho, where he attended the University of Idaho in Moscow. He married Dawn Edwards (Martin) in June of 1960. They had three children. Auggie graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering in June of 1961. Following this, he went to work for the State of California, serving as the summer irrigation season watermaster in Big Valley, California, and in Sacramento, California, during the winters. After returning to Idaho with his family, Auggie attended Washington State University while working in the Hydraulics Laboratory. He received his Master’s Degree in Water Management in 1967. In 1974, when the family of five moved to Portland, Auggie began working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). He retired after 20 years of service with the BIA. He continued to work for several more years after retirement as an engineering consultant on a dam project for the Zuni Tribe in New Mexico.

On August 8th, 1998, Auggie married Anne Mueller (Sherr), and they were married until his passing. They shared a passion for travel; their trips took them around the world. Auggie and Anne enjoyed visiting friends and family across the US as well as in other parts of the world. Auggie especially enjoyed long road trips and visiting historical monuments. In addition to traveling along Lewis and Clark's route, he and Anne also traced a Civil War route from Philadelphia to Gettysburg and then to Lexington, Virginia. Other travel highlights included visiting Pearl Harbor and an Alaskan cruise, where abundant food was enjoyed along with amazing scenery.

Auggie was an active member of the community. He attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Gresham from 1974 until his passing. He was involved in Engineering Ministries, through which he had the opportunity to travel the world to provide clean water to those in need. He founded the Corbett Critters 4-H Club and enjoyed helping club members show cattle each summer at the County Fair. He also served on the Corbett School Board and as Board Chairman for several years with a highlight being given an honorary Corbett High School Diploma in 1981. In his later years Auggie enjoyed keeping up with current events, reading, walking, visiting friends and spending time with family. He will always be remembered for the love he had for his children and family and his generosity.

Auggie was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Bruce Wayne Mueller; his stepdaughter, Rebecca Anne LaVietes; and his sister, Anne Franklin. Auggie is survived by his wife, Anne Mueller; his daughter, Cindy Smith and her husband Jeffrey, and their three children: Jordan (Kristen), Jenna, and Connor; his son, Reed Mueller and his wife, Erin (Primus), and their two children: Jackson and Abigail; his daughter-in-law, Kathryn Bervin-Mueller, and her four children: Patrick, Tabitha, Silas, and Seth; his stepchildren, Debi LaVietes Clark and her son, Sam Clark; and Stephen LaVietes and his wife, Kristan, and their daughter, Violet LaVietes. He was loved and will be greatly missed.