Donald "Donnie" H. Mueller

Donald “Donnie” H. Mueller, 87, of Howards Grove, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2024 with his grandchildren at his side. He was born on April 23, 1937 to the late Henry and Leona (Henning) Mueller. Donnie enjoyed growing up on his family’s farm with his two brothers in Millersville. He graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School with the Class of 1955. After graduation, he went to Wisconsin State College in River Falls, his studies were interrupted once he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Donnie was stationed in Germany at the same base as Elvis Presley, he would check Elvis’ pass every day. He was discharged from the U.S. Army at rank SP4-E4. 

Upon return home, Donnie worked as a Millersville Assistant Fire Chief and a Constable with the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department.  

On June 24, 1961 he was united in marriage to Sharleen Dexheimmer at St. Peter’s Evan. Reformed Church in Kiel, she preceded him in death in November 2023. 

In 1962, Donnie starting driving trucks all over the United States for Kohler, during this time he also owned and operated a mink farm.  

In 1969, Donnie along with his brother Glenn bought Pine Grove Bowling Lanes. In 1971, the two bought Mueller’s Pine Grove Resort in Pickerel Lake, which Donnie ran for over 50 years before retiring in 2022. He also bought and operated Mueller’s East Shore Resort on Rolling Stone Lake. Donnie had a softball team up north for many years. He was such a social butterfly, he enjoyed talking and helping people he encountered.  

He and his wife Sharleen were active members at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Howards Grove. Donnie enjoyed hunting, fishing and watching football (especially the Green Bay Packers). He had the biggest sweet tooth, which usually consisted of chocolate along with a cup of coffee and Walker, Texas Ranger on the television. Donnie was not stingy with his sweets either, he offered many sweets to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Donnie is survived by his grandchildren, Brianne (Isaiah) Noll, Christian Mueller-Ackley, and Autumn Mueller-Ackley; great-grandchildren, Pax, Artemis and Kieran Noll and Elsie Johnson. He is further survived by his sisters-in-law Doris Mueller, Darcy Mueller, Sharon Laack, Diana Nett (Hubert) and Georgene Dexheimmer; many nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends.  

He is preceded in death by his parents; son Dean Mueller; daughter Michelle (Tim) Mueller-Ackley; brothers Carl and Glenn Mueller; brothers-in-law Robert Laack and Dennis Dexheimmer and niece Fay Mueller.  

A funeral service for Donnie will be held on Monday, December 23, 2024 at 12:00 pm at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 441 Millersville Ave, Howards Grove. The family will greet relatives and friends from 10:00 am until the time of the service at the CHURCH. He will be laid to rest in St. Paul’s Cemetery. A livestream recording of the service will be available on the funeral home’s website. 

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all of those who helped and worked at the resorts through the years, Donnie couldn’t have done it without you all. The family would also like to thank Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for their support and kindness.