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Judith Muellenhagen Obituary
Judith Ann Muellenhagen
Knoxville - On November 13, 2020 Judy was called to eternal life with her Lord.
Judith Ann 'Judy' Muellenhagen was born December 16, 1952 in Knoxville, TN. She was the daughter of Annette Vaughan Muellenhagen and Walter J. Muellenhagen who both preceded her in death.
Judy grew up in the Detroit area and was in the first graduating class of Southfield-Lathrup High School in 1970. She attended the University of Tennessee for two years, living the first year with her maternal grandparents and then moved closer to campus with friends. Through all the years Judy kept in touch with many of her high school and college friends, often traveling around the country to visit them when time allowed.
Judy was a free spirit and loved to travel. While in high school she spent a month in the Philippine Islands on a mission trip with Northbrook Presbyterian Church. She also traveled to Mexico with her family and her high school class bringing back several 12-string guitars which she enjoyed playing. In addition to playing the guitar she was also an accomplished pianist and vocalist.
After working for a number of years in Knoxville Judy packed up her modified van and traveled west to California making many stops along the way to visit friends. Judy never met a stranger and enjoyed the friendship of all she met, developing deep friendships with folks in Florida, Tennessee, Michigan, California and Hawaii. In California she sold her van, bought a compact car and went west again to Hawaii where she spent nearly 20 years. In Hawaii Judy worked at a number of jobs but truly enjoyed the food delivery business which gave her the freedom to travel the islands and enjoy the company of her many friends there.
Judy moved back from Hawaii in 1995 to help care for her mother who passed away in July of 1996, after which she returned to Hawaii. In 2005 Judy married the love of her life, Dennis O'Keefe, in Hawaii. They lived together there until his death in 2009. In 2016 she returned from Hawaii for good and spent six months in Arizona helping care for her father who then passed away in 2018 after Judy had returned to the Knoxville area.
Judy's life never seemed to be easy but she always lived by her rules and accepted the consequences of her decisions with a smile and "It could always be worse" attitude. Through several illnesses and even after she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and then Corticobasal Degeneration she never lost her sense of humor. Judy always seemed to be able to find a light side of nearly any situation she found herself or others in.
Prior to leaving Hawaii in 2016, Judy was what the Hawaiian's call 'houseless'. During much of that time she was befriended by the kind folks of One Love Ministries Kakaako. Judy joined their weekly Women's Bible Study and developed deep friendships with the other women in the group. Karen, the director of Women's Ministries allowed Judy to park her car in their parking lot, served her meals and had clean-up facilities for her to use. In turn, Judy performed some cleaning and other housekeeping duties where she joyfully served alongside staff and other volunteers. There's no doubt that Judy's positive attitude was a blessing to all who ministered to her.
The family thanks Karen and One Love Ministries for their support of Judy before she left Hawaii. We also thank the staff of UT Medical Center, West Hills Health and Rehab and the kind staff of UT Hospice for their excellent care of Judy in her final weeks.
Judy will be sadly missed by her brother Walt Muellenhagen (Renaye), nieces Jennifer Muellenhagen Holdman (Josh) and Courtney Muellenhagen Fluharty, Aunt Gail Vaughan, her cousins Kathy Vaughan, Susan Vaughan Peavey (Dan) and her family, Terri Vaughan Colacone (Mike) and her family, Rick Vaughan, Vicki Vaughan Chaney (Tim) and her family, Alan Vaughan, Misten Vaughan Slemp (Mark) and her family, Jim Malicote (Mary), Sara Malicote Maness (Phil) and her many friends across the country who all survive.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorials be made to Women's Ministries of One Love Ministries of Kakaako, 670 Auahi Street, Suite A5, Honolulu, HI 96813 in Judy's name.
A celebration of Judy's life will be held in Knoxville in the spring of 2021. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com
Knoxville - On November 13, 2020 Judy was called to eternal life with her Lord.
Judith Ann 'Judy' Muellenhagen was born December 16, 1952 in Knoxville, TN. She was the daughter of Annette Vaughan Muellenhagen and Walter J. Muellenhagen who both preceded her in death.
Judy grew up in the Detroit area and was in the first graduating class of Southfield-Lathrup High School in 1970. She attended the University of Tennessee for two years, living the first year with her maternal grandparents and then moved closer to campus with friends. Through all the years Judy kept in touch with many of her high school and college friends, often traveling around the country to visit them when time allowed.
Judy was a free spirit and loved to travel. While in high school she spent a month in the Philippine Islands on a mission trip with Northbrook Presbyterian Church. She also traveled to Mexico with her family and her high school class bringing back several 12-string guitars which she enjoyed playing. In addition to playing the guitar she was also an accomplished pianist and vocalist.
After working for a number of years in Knoxville Judy packed up her modified van and traveled west to California making many stops along the way to visit friends. Judy never met a stranger and enjoyed the friendship of all she met, developing deep friendships with folks in Florida, Tennessee, Michigan, California and Hawaii. In California she sold her van, bought a compact car and went west again to Hawaii where she spent nearly 20 years. In Hawaii Judy worked at a number of jobs but truly enjoyed the food delivery business which gave her the freedom to travel the islands and enjoy the company of her many friends there.
Judy moved back from Hawaii in 1995 to help care for her mother who passed away in July of 1996, after which she returned to Hawaii. In 2005 Judy married the love of her life, Dennis O'Keefe, in Hawaii. They lived together there until his death in 2009. In 2016 she returned from Hawaii for good and spent six months in Arizona helping care for her father who then passed away in 2018 after Judy had returned to the Knoxville area.
Judy's life never seemed to be easy but she always lived by her rules and accepted the consequences of her decisions with a smile and "It could always be worse" attitude. Through several illnesses and even after she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and then Corticobasal Degeneration she never lost her sense of humor. Judy always seemed to be able to find a light side of nearly any situation she found herself or others in.
Prior to leaving Hawaii in 2016, Judy was what the Hawaiian's call 'houseless'. During much of that time she was befriended by the kind folks of One Love Ministries Kakaako. Judy joined their weekly Women's Bible Study and developed deep friendships with the other women in the group. Karen, the director of Women's Ministries allowed Judy to park her car in their parking lot, served her meals and had clean-up facilities for her to use. In turn, Judy performed some cleaning and other housekeeping duties where she joyfully served alongside staff and other volunteers. There's no doubt that Judy's positive attitude was a blessing to all who ministered to her.
The family thanks Karen and One Love Ministries for their support of Judy before she left Hawaii. We also thank the staff of UT Medical Center, West Hills Health and Rehab and the kind staff of UT Hospice for their excellent care of Judy in her final weeks.
Judy will be sadly missed by her brother Walt Muellenhagen (Renaye), nieces Jennifer Muellenhagen Holdman (Josh) and Courtney Muellenhagen Fluharty, Aunt Gail Vaughan, her cousins Kathy Vaughan, Susan Vaughan Peavey (Dan) and her family, Terri Vaughan Colacone (Mike) and her family, Rick Vaughan, Vicki Vaughan Chaney (Tim) and her family, Alan Vaughan, Misten Vaughan Slemp (Mark) and her family, Jim Malicote (Mary), Sara Malicote Maness (Phil) and her many friends across the country who all survive.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorials be made to Women's Ministries of One Love Ministries of Kakaako, 670 Auahi Street, Suite A5, Honolulu, HI 96813 in Judy's name.
A celebration of Judy's life will be held in Knoxville in the spring of 2021. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Knoxville News Sentinel from Dec. 19 to Dec. 20, 2020.
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