Pastor James "Jim" Mueller

Pastor James “Jim” Mueller, age 91, of Yankton, South Dakota died on Monday, March 31, 2025 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, on Friday, April 4, 2025 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Yankton with Reverend Steve Weispfennig and Reverend Jacob Bobby officiating. Burial will be in the Grace Hill Cemetery in Tripp, South Dakota. Visitation is from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, on Thursday, April 3 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Visitation also continues one hour prior to the funeral at the church.

Pallbearers are Joshua Mueller, Kim Mueller, Grant Furry, Kimberly Furry, Amanda Sharpe, and Randy Sharpe. Honorary pallbearers are all LCMS Pastors.

James Lee Mueller was born November 28, 1933 in Sidney, Nebraska to Frank and Thekla (Gemeinhardt) Mueller. Jim grew up on a farm near Potter, NE and then moved to Sidney where he graduated from high school. He graduated from St. John’s College in Winfield, KS and went on to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Jim married the love of his life, Ramona “Mona” Mueller on June 30, 1957 in Tyndall, SD. After their marriage, Jim graduated from the seminary and first served at Faith Lutheran Church in the inner city of Norfolk, VA. Throughout his ministry, Jim also served in Madison, SD and Fort Collins, CO and finished in the inner city of Kansas City, MO until he retired and moved to Yankton in 2002. Jim and Mona kept very busy in their retirement years traveling and serving in many ways, including spending two years in New Orleans with the clean up efforts from Hurricane Katrina as well as serving at churches in Texas during the winter months. Jim also enjoyed being a fill-in pastor at many churches throughout South Dakota so the permanent pastor could take a vacation. Pastor Jim simply loved the Lord and loved living for the Lord. He loved being a shepherd and loved the Word of God, especially recently creating a study for children on the book of Revelation. Jim also enjoyed fishing, playing cards, feeding and watching the birds in his backyard. Jim loved his family and treasured the time they were able to be together.

Jim is survived by his three sons: David Mueller of Yankton, Richard (Jill) Mueller of Alliance, NE and Brian (Gwen) Mueller of Columbia, SC; three grandchildren: Amanda (Randy) Sharpe, Kimberly (Grant) Furry and Joshua (Kim) Mueller; five great grandchildren: Theodore and Piper Furry, Ricky, Rylee and Rooster Sharpe; brother-in-law, Jerry (Audrey) Mueller; and many nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mona on August 1, 2019; four brothers: Ken, Wes, Don and Jerry Mueller; and one sister, Eileen Mueller.

Memorials may be directed to St. John’s Preschool at 1009 Jackson St. in Yankton, SD 57078 or Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran School at PO Box 715 in Alliance, NE 69301.