Delores Elizabeth Mueller, 97, of New Athens, IL, born August 11, 1928, in New Athens, IL, passed away on Thursday January 1, 2026, at the Freeburg Care Center in Freeburg, IL, surrounded by family.

After graduating high school Delores worked as a teller at Mercantile Bank in St. Louis.   She also worked at Illinois Power in New Athens and Mallinckrodt Industries in New Athens before retirement.   Her favorite job was on the family farm and being a wonderful mom, grandma, great grandma, and great great grandma.   Spending years doing the hard farm work of raising pigs, planting, and harvesting crops she had a wonderful work ethic that everyone admired.

Delores loved making quilt tops and peanut squares, gardening, playing bunco at PSOP, traveling, and eating at restaurants.  She was a member of the Women’s Guild at St John’s U.C.C., St Clair Co. Farm Bureau, PSOP Belleville, IL, Friends, Lift, Hope, Widow and Widowers group and the New Life Club of St. Matthews Church in Belleville, IL.   She was fondly known by her family as Grandma Purple.  She loved purple and always wore purple.   Her real love, however, was her husband, Leroy “Buddy” Mueller and her family.    Delores and Leroy were married on December 11, 1948, and shared 55 years of marriage before his death in 2004.  Together, they raised six children and built a growing legacy that includes 16 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.  Delores’s pride and joy was her family.  She set the bar high for the meaning of unconditional love, always giving, giving, and giving more, expecting nothing in return.   Her sense of humor along with a great laugh and smile brought joy to all around her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Betty (Reinhardt) Hentzel, brothers Wilmer Hentzel and Herbert Hentzel, sisters Martha Hanft and Helen Schneider, brothers-in-law, Lester Hanft and John Schneider, sister-in-law, Theresa “Terry” Hentzel, son-in-law Dan Jany, grandson Andrew Mueller and Grandson-in-law Carl Charlesworth.

She is survived by her six children, Diane (Tom) Boschert, their children Danielle (CT) Stuart, Bill (Nancy) Jany, Valerie (Doug) Martin, Kelly Boschert and Angie McManus; Joyce (Carl) Wegel, their children Claire Wegel, Leah Charlesworth, Talitha (Tom) Larck, and Lydia Wegel; LuAnn (Carl) Orlet; RoyLee (Anita) Mueller, their children Theo (Stephanie) Mueller and Alyse (Chris) Meriwether, Jerry (Connie) Mueller,  their children Ray (Morgan) Mueller and Sarah (Jake) Ruchalski,  Larry (Michelle) Mueller, their children Jacob Mueller, Kayla (Frank) Beelman, and Rebecca Mueller and by many nieces, nephews and other family members and friends

Memorials may be made to Shriners Children’s St Louis, St John United Church of Christ or donor’s choice.

Visitation:  Friends may call from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday January 10, 2026, at St. John United Church of Christ, New Athens, IL.

Funeral:  Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday January 10, 2026, at St. John U.C.C., in New Athens, IL.  Burial will be in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, IL.

Heil-Schuessler Funeral Home, New Athens, Ill.

1. Lisa Crank says:

   01/20/2026 at 5:40 pm

   I just discovered Delores had passed. She was an amazing woman and dear friend. Delores and I met shortly after her husband passed and we have been in touch for many years. I will miss out Chinese lunch dates and our fun banter.
   Rest in Peace my Dear Purple friend.

   Hugs to all the family.

   Reply
   • LuAnn Orlet says:

     01/25/2026 at 8:02 am

     Lisa, this is Delores daughter, LuAnn, I remember going with you and Mom to the Chinese buffet…you were a good friend of Moms and appreciate all you did for Mom.
     She’s with Dad now… Take care

     Reply
2. Wendi Gorney says:

   01/08/2026 at 10:23 am

   My heart is broken. I’ve known “Purple Delores” for over 10 years, enjoying her presence at our senior luncheons and Bunco days here at Fairview Heights Parks and Recreation. I’ll never forget when I had a senior spa day, and she had her first massage, at the age of 90! She always made me smile, and I loved her hugs every time I saw her. I’ll never see purple without thinking of her! What a wonderful life she had, and what a great legacy she left to her family!

   Reply
3. Allan and Janee Hanft says:

   01/05/2026 at 8:07 pm

   To Diane, Joyce, LuAnn, Roy Lee, Larry, Jerry and your families: So sorry to hear about Aunt Delores. We spent some happy Thanksgivings at the Mueller house years ago and always enjoyed the fun and laughter. She was a bright star in everyone’s life. Glad we had the privilege of knowing her.

   Love and hugs to all of you.
   Allan and Janee Hanft

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   • LuAnn Mueller Orlet says:

     01/25/2026 at 8:04 am

     Thank you for your kind words

     Reply
4. Jeff Harper says:

   01/05/2026 at 10:26 am

   Bill, Please know you and your family are in our thoughts as you mourn the loss of your grandmother.

   Jeff & Tammy Harper

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   • Cathy Reinhardt says:

     01/05/2026 at 4:10 pm

     I am so sorry for your loss, LuAnn and siblings. Your Mom was a great lady. She was always ready to talk about her great family!

     Reply
     • LuAnn says:

       01/25/2026 at 8:05 am

       Thanks for your kind words . . . she was a great lady. She is with Dad now

       Reply
5. Chiyoko Louise Miller Gussin says:

   01/04/2026 at 12:27 pm

   Please accept my condolences to the family and close friends. Roy Lee was a classmate of mine.

   Reply
   • LuAnn Orlet says:

     01/25/2026 at 8:10 am

     Thank you…I remember you from Roy’s class…Take care

     Reply
6. Joyce Boyett Skorcz says:

   01/04/2026 at 7:37 am

   So sorry for ur loss
   She was a sweet lady

   Reply
7. Mrs Charles ( Betty Jo ) Scherrer says:

   01/04/2026 at 12:08 am

   LuAnn, you all have my deepest sympathy and in my thoughts and prayers
   RIP Dolores
   God bless
   Mrs Charles ( Betty ) Scherrer

   Reply
   • LuAnn says:

     01/05/2026 at 7:37 am

     Thank you, Betty

     Reply