Marilyn Jane Mueller

Marilyn Jane Mueller passed away peacefully at the Davis Community in Wilmington, NC on July 7, 2025 surrounded by family. Jane was born in Warrensburg, Illinois on Nov. 17, 1928 to Herschel Walter and Helen Abigail Brown Beck. She majored in music at Millikin University in Decatur, IL where she belonged to the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. In her sophomore year, Jane met a dashing young man attending the university on the GI bill and married Norman Joseph Mueller on August 27, 1949 in Decatur. They moved to Arlington, VA in 1961 where they were active members of St. Ann Catholic Church and were part of a large circle of lifelong friends involved in the Christian Family Movement.

Music was a vital part of Jane’s life. Prior to her marriage, she formed a trio with two of her first cousins that sang with the Bud Hammond Orchestra. Throughout her life she also played piano and later became the organist for St. Ann. Jane sang with the Wareham Chorale for many years. The group’s highlights were regular performances at the Kennedy Center and with the Wolf Trap Opera Company.

Jane is survived by three sons, Stephen (Ann Cope) of Wilmington, NC, Scott (Meabh Purcell) of Falmouth, MA, and Sander (Siobhan Dockery) of Arlington, VA; as well as seven grandchildren: Alden (Lauren Bradford), Claire (Laura Birnbaum), Sam, Eli (Suzanne Saltzer), Bronwyn, Beck, Lulu and one great-grandchild, Helen.

Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Joseph Mueller, her brother, Robert Walter Beck of Louisville, KY and sister, Patricia Ann Maddox of Niantic, IL.

Jane was a wonderfully cheerful person who always took the time to serve as a Cub Scout den mother, create art projects with her fellow Krifty Krafters, play a game of Memory with her grandchildren or take dinner to a neighbor in need. Her vintage expressions, such as ‘heavenly days,’ ‘oh my land,’ 'sakes alive' and ‘isn’t that the berries’ will long be remembered. We all will miss her dearly.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on August 16 at St. Ann Catholic Church in Arlington, VA, with interment at Columbia Gardens Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Jane and Norm's university at Millikin.edu.