Peter Muellenbach

Peter Muellenbach, age 94, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Monday, October 1, 2018 at the Browns Valley Health Center in Browns Valley, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton with Fr. Stanley Wieser and Fr. John Paul Knopik Celebrating the Mass. Organist will be Tressa Lanter with special music by Marcy LeClair and James Rinke.

Visitation will be held Friday, October 5th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service at Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton. Visitation will continue Saturday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Military Rites will be provided by the Merton Dale American Legion Post #80. Pallbearers will be Chad LeClair, Brian Muellenbach, Corey Muellenbach, Gavin Rinke, James Rinke and Jon Mathias.

Peter Nicholas Muellenbach was born on Sunday, June 22, 1924 in Wilkin County, Minnesota to Leo and Mary (Nennig) Muellenbach. He was baptized and confirmed at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton, Minnesota. He lived on a farm south of Breckenridge for his first 5-1/2 years, and then his family moved to Wheaton, Minnesota. He went to K-12th grade in Wheaton, graduating in 1942. He joined the Army Air Force in April, 1943 and was honorably discharged on February 14, 1946. He married Lenore Gertrude Frisch on May 15, 1946, in Dumont, Minnesota. They resided in Wheaton, enjoyed 67 years of marriage together, and were blessed with four children: Patricia, Michael, James and
Marcia.

Throughout the years, beginning at a very young age, Peter worked many jobs in Wheaton. These jobs included shoe shine boy at the Barber Shop for 5 cents a pair, working for his supper as a bell hop at the hotel, the shoe store painting white shoes black, the coop store for $10 a week, pin setter at the bowling alley, 12-hour shifts for $2.50/day, behind the soda fountain at the Corner Drug store, to finally his last job before entering the Army Air Force, running the projection booth at the theatre. His most notorious job as a child of 12 years... he had his own paper delivery business, with 3 employees. Known as "Journal Pete", he was considered the youngest agent employed by the Minneapolis Journal. Pete won a trip to Washington, D.C. in 1937 for obtaining 25 new subscribers to the Minneapolis Journal. After returning from the military and getting married, Pete was hired at the State Bank of Wheaton on December 10, 1946. He began at entry level, sometimes scrubbing the floors, became a teller, and 42 years later retired from the bank as Executive Vice President.

Peter was an active member of the Merton-Dale Post 80 American Legion in Wheaton, Minnesota for 74 years. He was a trustee for the Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton for 40 years. Peter enjoyed pheasant hunting and fishing with his father and children and enjoyed many years of league bowling. His family was his top priority. He was a loving, caring, and supportive husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. This incredible man will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Peter is survived by four children: Patricia Canlas of Wheaton; Michael Muellenbach of Becker, MN; James (Cheryl) Muellenbach of Sartell, MN; and Marcia (Jon) Mathias of Wheaton; eight grandchildren: Marcy (Chad) LeClair; Tracie (James) Rinke; Brian Muellenbach; Emily (James) Pinson; Corey Muellenbach (special friend Aimee); Casey Muellenbach; Megan Whaley and Michelle Whaley; five great-grandchildren: Austin, Gavin, Lesley and London Rinke and Halle Whaley; two sisters: Betty Stevermer of Granite Falls, MN; and Marian Itzen of Wheaton.

Peter was preceded in death by his wife Lenore; parents: Mary (Nennig) Muellenbach; and Leo and Helen Muellenbach.