Joseph Carl Muren

I learned some of my greatest life lessons in leadership under the tutelage of President Muren in Central America. On one occasion, a mission companion and I received the assignment to prepare a new city for the inception of missionary work. During the assignment, I had an accident while driving the mission van. I called President Muren to give him the news. I feared the worst in his response. There was a pause. Instead of the fiery response, there were gentle questions: "Is everyone...

Dear Sister Gladys and Family:
I'm very sorry to hear about the death of President Muren. I was one of your missionaries at the Costa Rica, San Jose Mission on 1978-1978. President Muren influenced my life.
May the Lord bless you and hold you on his arms.

Raquel Velasquez de Muñoz - Panama City

He will always be President Muren to me. I received great inspiration and direction from his teachings and example. I served in the Costa Rica San Jose Mission with him in his first year there. His direction to me was succinct and bore into my soul. I am thankful that I had an opportunity to visit with him again only a few years ago. Sister Muren was always his calming force...such a very sweet lady. I am sorry for your temporary separation from your dear husband.
He is loved by...

Joe Muren was my institute teacher at El Camino College. He got ahold of me at a critical time in 1965. He inspired me to learn and to serve. I dropped out of college and took only institute classes the semester before my mission. I have never had a greater spiritual feast. He brought my future wife, Shanna, and me together through carefully manipulated "assignments" at the institute. Shanna transfered to CSULB when Joe was director of that institute. We both attended many Know Your Religion...

Dear Muren family,
Your husband, father and grandfather changed many lives. I had the pleasure of knowing your loved one when he was at the Stanford institute most specifically at Foothill College. He had an infectious love of the gospel and taught from the heart.

Linda Rich Hadley

When he was teaching us the gospel he one year decided to teach about the Prophets of old and new. We each chose one from each of the four standard works of the church and learned about...

Muren Family,
We served as President and Vice President of the LDSSA at Long Beach State when Br. Muren was Institute Director. We remember him with fond memories. What a fireball he was. Always moving, playing basketball, teaching, encouraging, working to find you a date for the dance. We have enjoyed following his activities through the years. What a wonderful legacy your family has.
Barrie and Janet Lopossa Smith

Dear Sister Muren and Family:

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of such a great man. It's been almost 30 years since I served under him in Costa Rica.

While I still consider it the best 2 years of my life, my six months as Secretary in the mission office can easily be considered the best 6 months of my life!

I can honestly say there isn't a week that goes by that I don't think of you all and especially of President Muren as his life, teachings, wisdom...

A great man, a great leader, a great teacher, a great mission president. His teaching educated us, his stories inspired us, and his humor lightened our loads. I was blessed to serve under him during the first year of his mission in CR, while he set about "waking the sleeping giant."

Elder Muren was and will be deeply missed by many of us in the Human Resource function. He taught us to love the Savior, to seek the stirrings of the spirit and to devote ourselves to holiness. His laugh and his insight were infectious. We love him and will miss him deeply.