Rev. Dr. Russ W. Mueller

Rev. Dr. Russ Mueller

Rev. Dr. Russ Wayne Mueller of Paso Robles, California, entered into God's peace on January 9, 2017 in San Luis Obispo.

Pastor Russ was born in the small farming community of Golden, Illinois in 1931. He married Norma in 1951  and graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa in 1953, earning his M.Div at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa in 1957. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1958 to 1975, retiring with the rank of Major.

Russ was ordained as a pastor on June 9, 1957 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Golden, Illinois. In Illinois he also served Zion, Mt. Olive from 1957 to 1962, and Immanuel, Flatville from 1962 to 1969.  In California he served at Faith, Castro Valley from 1969 to 1976 and St. Andrew, San Diego from 1976 to 1984. In San Diego, Russ pioneered work in television ministry, serving as part of a team that won an "Emmy" for the local FOCUS FIVE program in 1981 and introduced religious programming to San Diego cable. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California in 1982, writing his thesis on "The Use of Television in Parish Education."

He then served at St. Timothy, Lakewood from 1984 to 1995, Emmanuel, Bakersfield from 1995 to 1998, and as an interim pastor at churches in San Pablo, King City, Templeton, and Porterville. He retired in Paso Robles, CA and was a member of Hope, Atascadero.   

He is survived by his wife, Norma of Paso Robles, CA; his brother, Wilfred and his wife, Henriette of Highland Park, Illinois; five children, David and his wife, Judith Kulla of Hastings, Minnesota; Mike of Castro Valley; Kelly Greenne (former daughter-in-law) of Hayward; Matthew of Paso Robles; Brian and his wife Michelle of Castro Valley; Sylvia of Turlock; three Vietnamese foster sons: Khoa Van Do, Thanh Van Do, and Thien Pham and three grandsons: Steven Waybright, Micah Mueller, Christian Mueller and one granddaughter, Sierra Greenne; three nephews: Mark, Grant, Luke; numerous great-grandchildren and several cousins. He was preceded in death by one Vietnamese foster son, Hung Tran.

The memorial service for Russ will be held Saturday, March 4 at 11:00 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, 8005 San Gabriel Rd, Atascadero, CA.  A reception will follow. The Committal will take place at Golden Community Cemetery, Golden, Illinois at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to: El Camino Homeless Organization in Atascedero, CA; Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa; Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa; and Hope Lutheran Church in Atascadero.

Condolences may be sent to: Norma Mueller, 2095 Fallbrook Ct, Paso Robles, CA 93446.