Robert Louis Mueller

He graduated from Peoria (Central) High School in 1940, and enrolled at the University of Illinois in Champaign, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He was also active in management of the University Men's Intramural program and was chosen Senior Manager in 1943. He was elected to the Men's Junior and Senior Activity honoraries, Sachen and Ma-Wan-Da. After completing three years at the U of I, he was called into the Army in June of 1943.

After basic training at Ft. Bragg, NC, Bob completed Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA, commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry. He was assigned to instructing at Camp Hood, Texas, until mid-1945, and ordered to the Philippines early in August 1945. He was aboard a ship in the Pacific when the atom bombs were deployed. Arriving near Manila early in September, he was assigned to the 32nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized, which shipped to Japan and took up occupation duties at Hagi, on the southern part of the main island, Honshu. Bob was a platoon leader and the troop executive officer. He later was assigned to the 24th Division, 19th Infantry, Anti-tank Company, stationed near Kochi City on the island of Shikoku. That unit moved to Lo Beppu, on the island of Kyushu, where in August 1946, he received orders to return to the states.

Bob reenrolled at the University of Illinois for his senior year, graduating in June 1947 with a B.S. from the College of Commerce. After returning to U of I, he met his future wife, Bette Livingstone of Springfield. They were married October 10, 1947, in the First Presbyterian Church by the Reverend Paul Bischoff.

He was employed with Livingstone Adjustment Service and enrolled in Lincoln College of Law for night classes the following spring. In 1950, he received orders to return to the Army and reported to Fort Riley, Kansas on November 1, 1950, where he was assigned to the Army Officer Candidate School as an instructor and tactical officer. Released in March 1952, he returned to Springfield, his job, and law school.

He graduated from Lincoln College of Law and was sworn in as an attorney in November 1953. He was a founding partner of Livingstone, Mueller, Drake & Davlin (now Livingstone, Mueller, O'Brien, & Davlin). He retired from active practice at the end of 2000.

Bob and Bette raised four children, Livingstone Robert, Ann, William White, and Allen Cronin Mueller. Bette passed away June 4, 2010; William in March 2006. Surviving are his children, Ann Mueller Whitacre of Danvers, IL, Livingstone Robert Mueller (wife, Sue Myerscough), and Allen Cronin Mueller (wife, Pietra) of Springfield; grandchildren, Sarah (Bryan Bylica) Myerscough-Mueller, Lauren Myerscough-Mueller, Peter and Hana Mueller, and Jessica (Ben) Otto & Ben (Coreen) Whitacre; and great-grandchildren, Emily, Sophia, and Jessalynn.

Bob had been a member of Christ Episcopal Church since 1950. He was also a member of the Sangamo Club, and formerly a member of Illini Country Club, the Sangamon County, Illinois, and American Bar Associations, St. Paul's Lodge #500, Springfield Consistory, Ansar Shrine, and Royal Order of Jesters. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Springfield and served as its president in 1964. He was active in Khoury League, Southwestern Little League, and Washington Park Pony League with his sons. He and Bette were members of DIA. He had an abiding interest in the Cubs, the Bears, and all U of I sports, a loyal, and in some cases, long-suffering fan. He was an accomplished golfer in his youth, playing on Peoria Highs stellar teams of the late 1930s, but his game would later suffer from neglect as he devoted himself to raising his children with Bette, though he did impart to his sons a love of the game and its colorful language, that language being the only thing his sons ever surpassed him in. He also enjoyed tennis.

In later years, Bob and Bette spent many happy weeks at the cabin they built in Summit Lake, WI.

Words cannot describe what he meant to his family and friends. He was the best of everything: the brightest, the kindest, the most loving and genuine of men. His dry and sometimes irreverent sense of humor was unmatched. He meant the world to us, and he will be sorely missed.

Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 6th and Jackson, Springfield, with interment of cremated remains immediately following the service in the church gardens. The family will receive friends immediately preceding (3:30ish) and after the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the following: Champaign County Health Care Consumers, 44 E. Main Street, Suite 208, Champaign, IL 61820orUIS Illinois Innocence Project, One University Plaza, MS PAC 45, Springfield, IL 62703.