Obituary of Philip Muller

Philip O. Muller, 73, passed away on December 17, 2012 at his home in rural Isanti. Born in Minneapolis on February 17, 1939, he received an excellent education from the Nuns & Brothers at Incarnation and De La Salle schools, where he also started playing tennis. He was the Boy's Jr. State Champion 4 years running, and Jr. & Sr. Men's Champion also for 4 years. He served in the Army Reserves in charge of the motor pool. He surveyed for the MN Fish & Wildlife Service and the Army Corps of Engineers. He and his brother Lorenz started a gun shop and gunsmithing business in their basement. They eventually opened Valley Sports & Ye Olde Gun Shoppe in Shakopee while serving on the Savage Police Force. He married Cindy and raised her 4 children. They later divorced. He moved to Isanti County in 1984 where he married Sue Ann and raised her two sons. He worked for Honeywell in the 120mm tank ammunition program and then Alliant Tech Systems where he was the Lead Test Engineer, traveling weekly to California, New Mexico and Maryland. He retired in 1991 when he and Sue Ann opened The Outdoor Cooking Store in White Bear Lake, until its close in 2005. He then ran Northwest Charcoal & Chemical Co, delivering wood and charcoal to restaurants and meat markets. He loved barbecue competitions where he won many cook-offs and was a certified KCBS judge. Phil attended South Isanti Baptist church for over 20 years where he was active in Awana. He loved to greet and hand out bulletins. He had a firm belief in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was an avid hunter and entertained his buddies every year on his home acreage. He loved to play cards and fish. He was always ready to help those in need and took in 'strays' (people and animals). Phil not only forgave people willingly, he also forgot any injustice immediately. Phil is survived by and will be greatly missed by his wife, Sue Ann, children Matthew (Patty) Jackels of Waconia, MN, Gwen (Brad) Smith of Kentucky, Nancy (David) Wrede of Kentucky, Brad Schiller & Blake (Aline Nelson) Schiller of Isanti, brother Lorenz Muller of Mpls, many grandchildren and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his brother Harold Muller, sister Cindy Strand and son Kirk Jackels of Kentucky.