John Ernest Mueller, Jr.

Louisville - John Ernest Mueller, Jr. (Jack), age 94, of Louisville, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025, at the Nazareth Home, surrounded by his beloved wife and children. Jack was born in 1930 on the dining room table at his home on West 36th Street, where he often joked about nearly being sat on by his grandmother. His three older sisters went by nicknames, and the birth of baby "Skipper" completed the family. A proud graduate of Sacred Heart Model School (class of 1944), Saint Xavier High School (class of 1948), and the University of Notre Dame (class of 1952), Jack traveled through much of his life with his best friend and classmate, Lee J. Steiden. After college, Jack served in the United States Army during the Korean War, where he worked as an airplane mechanic fortuitously stationed in France, where he fondly recalled amazing meals, wine, and weekend socials.

Upon returning home, Jack found most of his friends married, and soon Lee's sister-in-law, Eleanor Lee Baron, caught his eye. Jack married Eleanor, the love of his life for 61 years, and together they raised six children-Dr. Maria Baron Mueller Beck (Andrew), Ellen Condon Mueller Teague (Tres), John Sheridan Mueller, Lee Anthony Mueller, Thomas Dignan Mueller, and James Michael Mueller (Emily). They were further blessed with eight grandchildren: Alexandria, Anna-Maria, Christian, and Amelie Beck, Jacqueline and Hoyt Teague, and Ellery and Quentin Mueller. Jack was a cherished uncle and father figure to many.

Jack worked alongside his father, John, at Peaslee-Gaulbert and later, alongside his son Lee, at Floor Covering Distributors, a company he proudly led well into his nineties. His professional and personal life was deeply intertwined with his Catholic faith - he was a devoted parishioner of St. Agnes Catholic Church and, more recently, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, where he attended daily mass and formed a close-knit community. His leadership was felt in countless organizations, including the Downtown Louisville Kiwanis Club, the St. Agnes School Board, the St. Xavier Alumni Association, the Notre Dame Club of Kentucky, and the St. Joseph Children's Home.

Later in life, Jack developed a passion for horse racing and the community of Churchill Downs, where he spent many afternoons with a close-knit group of friends. He attended the Kentucky Derby until he was 92, and two of his proudest moments were walking the track before the big race and attending the Triple Crown with his son Tom, who was part-owner of legendary winner, Justify.

Jack was a lifetime member of Audubon Country Club and cherished his many friends, with whom he enjoyed hilarious memories from numerous golf trips, football weekends, breakfast, lunch, and dinner clubs. Somewhere along the way, he earned another nickname, "The Dancing Bear," as his love for music, dancing, storytelling, and spreading joy truly defined him. His family and friends will remember him as the life of the party, engaging and interested in everyone.

Jack is survived by his wife, Eleanor Lee Baron Mueller. He is preceded in death by his parents, John E. Mueller, Sr., and Alexandria Emmetsberger ("Saunie") Mueller, and his three sisters, Jacqueline Mueller McDonald, Dorothy Mueller Blandford, and Ruth Mueller Ratterman. The family is incredibly thankful for the compassionate care and support provided by Joann Sims and her team of caregivers, the staff at Nazareth Home, and Drs. David Overley, John Gormley, and Christopher Smith.

Visitation for Jack will be held on Thursday, January 30, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ratterman's, 3711 Lexington Road. His funeral mass will be on Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Agnes Church, 1920 Newburg Road, with a burial at Calvary Cemetery. Sympathy donations may be made to: The Norton Children's Hospital Foundation, 4965 US Highway 42 Suite 1000, Louisville, KY, 40222, or Saint Xavier High School, 1609 Poplar Level Road, Louisville, KY, 40217.