Kent J Mueller

Passed away on October 28, 2025 after a fearless battle with lung cancer since May of 2023.

Kent was born and raised in Milwaukee and Waukesha. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ken and Miriam, and his brother Gary. He is survived by his wife Linda of 37 years, his brothers Tom (Karen) and Richard; nephews JT (Jenny), Jonathan (Maddie) and niece Katie.

He attended High School at JFK Prep in St Nazianz, Wisconsin for a short but interesting stint. He also attended UW-Milwaukee for various classes. He got his driver's license on his 30th birthday, holding onto 16 as long as he could.

Kent's life was filled with a love of art in every form. In the early 80's he was the drummer in the Null Heirs. He said his job as a drummer was "to make other drummers look good."

Also in the early 80's Kent and a partner started Wright Street Gallery in Riverwest. Later, he and four other partners launched Metropolitan Gallery which started out in Riverwest and for a short time moved downtown, then settled in Walker's Point. The last gallery he opened was KM Art located at the north end of Walker's Point. His ability to seek out intriguing and meaningful art by local artists made each opening something everyone looked forward to.

During all this he was a founding member of Goal Zero Poetry Group. In June 2022, art and poetry came together for him when he curated a Goal Zero retrospective at Usable Space Gallery.

He also loved trains. He LOVED trains. Not steam, but diesel. His never-ending project was an HO scale model of a grimy and urban area of Milwaukee's railroad circuit from the 60's. The cats would go full Godzilla on Milwaukee if they jumped up on the train set. Every weekend Kent would take a ride around Milwaukee, checking what ships were in port and what engines and other unusual stock were in the rail switching yards.

His other interests included gardening (but not weeding), reading and photography. Kent had a soft spot for all the cats and dogs we've welcomed into our home through the years. 

"Wheel me into the sun, dear."

Donations in Kent's memory can be made to WMSE 91.7 or any animal rescue/shelter.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Friday, December 19, 2025 at Witkowiak Funeral Home, 529 W. Historic Mitchell Street, Milwaukee Wisconsin from 3PM to 6PM.