Maria ‘Connie’ Mueller

Connie was born on July 17, 1959, in Weslaco, Texas, to Elisa (Desiga) Blanco and the late Clemente Blanco. She was the eldest of seven children and is survived by siblings, Jose Luis (Angelique) Blanco, Pedro Blanco, Gustavo Blanco, Maria Blanco Roan, Martin (Noemi) Blanco, and Amparo (Roel) Garza.

The first in her family to graduate from college, Connie obtained a teaching degree from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and worked as a special education teacher. While residing in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Connie met Gary Mueller, and they were married on June 14, 1986. Connie and Gary began a family and in 1993 moved north from Texas to the Upper Peninsula, where Connie remained.

Connie was passionate about teaching children, especially about God and His creation. After leaving Texas, she homeschooled all four of her children, taught children’s church at the Community Bible Chapel, where she was a member, and eventually returned to formal teaching at Holy Spirit School, where she was beloved by her students and their families.

While faithfully counting God’s blessings to her, Connie went out of her way to bless the lives of so many in her community, always putting others’ needs ahead of her own. An avid gardener and thrifter, she loved to gift others with home-canned goods and incredible thrift store finds. Above all else, she valued her relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and lived to love others as she knew He loved her.

In addition to her mom and siblings, Connie is survived by three daughters, Yesenia (Brent) Howell of Charlotte, N.C., Chelsea Mueller of Ann Arbor, Mich., Meaghan (Bryce) Swanson of Kingsford; son Randy (Emily) Mueller of Ypsilanti, Mich.; two grandchildren, Lucia and Owen Swanson; countless aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; and innumerable friends she loved as family.

In addition to her father, she is preceded in death by her husband, Gary Mueller, who lost his own battle to cancer in 2003; grandson Caden Swanson; and four unborn grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, monetary donations may be made in her memory to one of the many charitable organizations she supported, such as Voice of the Martyrs, Living Hope Native Ministries (supporting the Pikangikum tribe), or One Hope International.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Nov. 7, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Aurora Free Church in Aurora, Wis.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at the church with Pastor Lonnie Wilson officiating.

Interment will follow at the Norway Township Cemetery.

If comfortable, feel free to wear bright clothing in honor of Connie’s vibrant life and love of color.

“… but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Condolences to the family of Connie may be expressed online at www.ortmanfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements were made with the Ortman Funeral Home in Norway.