Charles "Chuck" R. Mueller

Charles “Chuck” Rudolph Mueller Sr., 80,  formerly of Stoddard, passed away Monday, September 3rd, 2018 at Bethany Riverside in La Crosse.

Chuck was born on January 19, 1938, to Andrew and Thelma (McCabe) Mueller in Alma (Buffalo Co.). He graduated from Augusta High School in Augusta, WI in 1956, and attended school in Ames, Iowa with his good friend Jim Colbert to learn his lifelong craft of being a mason.  If you needed it built, he would come!  Chuck was a Master Craftsman and Mason Extraordinaire.  He owned and ran Mueller Masonry with the help of many family, and some of the best employees and friends a guy could ask for, from 1965 until 2008 doing what he loved to do best.

Chuck was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed his hunting trips to Minnesota, Buffalo County, Hamburg Iowa, to the "Buck Shack" with Norm Becker, and going Elk and Mule Deer hunting in Colorado and New Mexico.  He also made a number of fishing trips to Canada.  He was a lifelong softball player, and always looked forward to the annual 4th of July trip to Augusta with family and friends for the Bean & Bacon Days tournament.  He enjoyed racing snowmobiles and owned a stock car in the 1970's that his friend Peter "Wallbanger" Mahlum raced for him at the La Crosse Fairground Speedway, as well as a few other Midwestern race tracks.  He was involved in athletics at De Soto High School as a scout for football coach Bob Schulz when they won two state championships in 1983 and 1984.  He was an assistant baseball coach for De Soto during a number of years in the 1980's, and coached the Stoddard Legion baseball team for a few years too.  He never missed a chance to support the children of family and friends by catching one of their games.  He was a true fan!  In his later years he enjoyed visiting friends and family, as well as taking trips to the casino with his good friend Barb Elsen.

Chuck was married to Annette (Ann) Jane Varsi on Feb. 21, 1963, at San Jose, CA, until they divorced in 1991.  They raised five children together; Charles Jr. "Butch" (Michelle Phillips) of Marine City MI, Keith (Kristin) of Holmen WI, Monica (Jeffrey Miller) of McMinnville TN, Jill of Loveland CO, and Terry (Sara Washburn) of Stoddard WI.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Thelma and Andrew; two brothers, Bob and Larry; and two sisters, Marilyn and Pearl.  He is survived by his ex-wife, Stasha Vass (Ann); his sister, Betty (Bill) Knight; two brothers, Rick (Sharon) Mueller and Dale Mueller; all five of his children; six grandchildren, Sarah (John Parker) Mueller, Marah Mussro, Nick, Maddie, Kassie, and Dane Mueller; two great grandchildren, Noya and Iris Parker; and many extended family and friends.

Enjoy the Big Hunt Chuck!

A celebration of life will be held for Chuck on Sunday, September 23, 2018, from 1:30 - 5:00 P.M. at the Stoddard American Legion, 414 Broadway St. in Stoddard. The Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley is assisting the family.  Online condolences may be given at selandsfuneralhome.com.