John and Ilse Muller

In memory of Ilse Muller, formerly Ilse Jolanthe Oosterink, August 18, 1921 - December 21, 2010, and of John George Muller, October 20, 1920 - November 26, 2013.

Ilse was born to Dutch parents on August 18, 1921, in Bali, Indonesia. She grew up in the Dutch East Indies and endured World War II in a Japanese prison camp, surviving malaria, cholera, dengue fever, and malnutrition. Before being detained by the Japanese, she secretly arranged to bury documents potentially damaging to the Allied war effort. Her heroic resolve during the war years has been an inspiration to her descendants. After the war, she worked for the United States Embassy, during which time she survived an assassination attempt explosion and met two future presidents of Indonesia. Ilse moved to New York City, where she became an American citizen and met and married John George Muller. Their loving union endured for 59 years.

While living in the D.C. area in the 70's and 80's, Ilse was highly regarded for her work at the Georgetown University Center for Strategic and International Studies. Ilse spoke seven languages and spoke English (her third or fourth language) better than most native speakers. Ilse's experiences around the globe made her a worldly person, giving her insight into international relations rooted in respect for other cultures. She remained engaged in current affairs into her old age. She offered all in her family great wisdom and unconditional love. Ilse Muller exemplified Old World decorum and was held in high esteem and affection by all who met her. A cherished matriarch, she was always full of good things to say about the achievements and personalities of her children and grandchildren. She treated all those she met with kindness, respect, and dignity.

John was the eighth child of a family facing poverty and was adopted by a childless couple in New Jersey. Not long afterwards, they had a biological son, Peter Muller. The first child in both his biological and adoptive families to attend college, John did that in remarkable fashion, graduating from M.I.T. with a Bachelor's degree and from Harvard with a Master's degree, both in engineering.

After leaving the Navy at the end of World War II, John worked for Aramco, where he met and married one of the executive secretaries (Ilse). He was transferred to Saudi Arabia, where John worked on a process of freeze drying that was eventually used to make the first commercial freeze-dried coffee. That was one of several of his patents. After returning to the States, John became concerned about the energy being wasted in America. He wrote repeatedly to congressmen about the problem, and it was the one hundredth letter that finally brought a positive response. That letter, combined with the energy shortage of the early 1970s, led to the formation of the Department of Energy, where John eventually was employed and was awarded "Mr. Energy Conservation" in 1975. The public information pamphlets (including one he authored, "Don't be Fuelish") and posters published by the DOE were taken from a list of ways to save energy John had identified over the years. He was in the Who's Who for Engineers many times. He started his own company, Veracity Corporation. John retired from government service in 1985.

A true gentleman, he is remembered for his wisdom, kindness, patience, unwavering honesty, compassion, and keen wit. John was a great source of wisdom and compassion to his family. When conversations seemed to be moving a little slowly (or in the wrong direction), he enjoyed seeing those around him come to life as he "stirred up a little interest" with an unexpected and often humorous comment or unique perspective. He had a passion for sailing and Arabian horses, and treasured his extensive collection of non-fiction literature.

The Mullers made their home in New York, Saudi Arabia, and the Washington, D.C. area before retiring to rural Virginia. They later moved to Boca Raton, Florida to be near their daughter, Louise, who was a great source of support and companionship to them in their later years.

John and Ilse are survived by their three children (John, Diane, and Louise), by seven grandchildren, and by four great-grandchildren, and were predeceased by a grandson. They are greatly missed and remembered with deep affection.