Carl J. Mueller

Carl John Mueller Jr. passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family and friends on Friday, December 25th, 2020 at the age of 88, although he had hoped to make it to 100. He was the loving husband of the late Mary E. (Lazieh) Mueller with whom he shared fifty-nine years of marriage.

Carl proudly served our country in the Marines and Air Force. He was a Veteran of the Korea and Vietnam Wars. He retired from the Air Force in 1976 and lived the rest of his days in Greenland on Palm Drive. He was a member of the Greenland Congregational Church, a Past President of the Greenland Veteran's Association and a volunteer fireman. While in Greenland he and Mary were named the Citizens of the Year (1996) for their contributions to the Weeks Library through their can recycling program.

Born in Chepachet, Rhode Island on October 27, 1932. He was the son of the late Carl J. Sr. and Dora (Lange) Mueller. He was a thin young boy. His mother would feed him egg creams to try to put weight on him. In 1950, Carl enlisted in the Army. Two months later he was at Paris Island. Carl's childhood friend Cody joined the Marines and was leaving immediately so Carl ran out on the Army enlistment and joined the Marines. Paris Island in the early 1950's was not the place most Marines alive today would recognize. They were barracked in tents. Women were present, but in very small numbers and completely isolated from the men. All the men knew where they were headed upon graduation, Korea. In January 1951 he graduated boot camp and headed to Camp Pendleton to serve KP duty until it was his turn to take the slow boat to Korea.

Carl arrived in Korea after a stalemate was met. The major offensives were being completed as he traveled and although there were still many fights ahead of him the majority of the loses were behind the US. Carl remembers sitting in fox holes with his flame thrower strapped to his back. It was always good to be the flame thrower because if anyone started toward the hole you could just open up the flame to scare them back. It was always bad to be the flame thrower because you were the biggest target.

After their tour in Korea, Carl and Cody were assigned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. From there they could make short trips up the coast to their home in Rhode Island. They served their 4-year tour and decided not to reenlist because "I wasn't asked nicely." The duo headed home one last time and spent the next years working in factories and on the new highway, Interstate 90 through Worcester MA, that needed bypasses and bridges poured. Carl met Mary, the love of his life after a buddy needed a wingman for the younger sister of the woman he was dating, Evelyn. Cody stood by his side at the wedding and almost helped with the divorce. Carl and Cody tended to work hard and then drink their way home from Worcester. One night Mary and Carl's father laid down the law that enough was enough. But it was Mary's mother, Julia, who poured him coffee and really got through to him.

Carl enlisted in the Air Force, 4 years after leaving the Marines. He first went to Lowry AFB to learn his new career in fire rescue. During Vietnam Carl served as rescue man for downed pilots. He and Mary were stationed at Eielson AFB, Alaska in 1962 when their first son Carl "Tiger" was born. Mary and their son were evacuated to Rhode Island when a U2 was shot down in Russia. The family were stationed in Laredo, Texas where their next son, David, was born. Their final station before returning to New England was MacDill AFB, Florida where their daughter, Sandra joined the family.

After retiring from the military Carl worked as a diesel mechanic at Custom Pools in Newington NH and at the University of New Hampshire. He finally retired at the age of 72. He and Mary enjoyed snowbird trips to St. George Island in Florida until she passed and then Carl would winter with his daughter in North Carolina. He could be found in the summers driving around southern NH with the top down in his red Mustang. He continued building decks, working around his house and staying active until his death.

He is survived by his three children Carl, David, and Sandra: one daughter-in-law Kellie; three grandsons Addison, Chase, and Brady and one beloved dog Ava.

A graveside service for Carl will be held in the spring at a date to be announced and an informal gathering will follow.