Martin C. Mueller, MD

Martin Charles Mueller, MD

March 9, 1925 to May 20, 2014

Martin was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on March 9, 1925, the second of four children born to Reverend Martin and Mabel Mueller.  He passed into the Lord’s hands on May 20, 2014 at the vibrant age of 89.  A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday May 24 ^th at Resurrection Lutheran Church.

Raised during the Great Depression and in a dynamic Lutheran pastor’s home that was quite musical, Martin was a great student and became a state champion violinist in high school, as well as a gifted wood craftsman.    His love of music has been deeply passed down through the family.   We are enriched by several pieces of fine furniture hand-crafted by Martin.

When advising his family on finding a place in community and earning a living, he says he had 3 choices for career on his mind as he completed an undergraduate degree at Valparaiso University; pastor following family tradition, doctor because of interests in science and increasing compassion for people, and carpenter for the hands-on satisfaction of shaping something tangible and strong with natural elements.   He successfully blended all three by becoming an orthopedic physician, following God’s call to compassionately heal over 25,000 patients throughout East Portland.   Following that medical path, he met the love of his life.

He came to Oregon in 1948 fresh from Creighton Medical School as an Emanuel Hospital intern, with ties to the Physician and Surgeons Clinic.   There he met gorgeous and smart Marian, also recently graduated from Emanuel School of Nursing.  They courted and married in August 1952, and then life threw a small curveball.   The Army drafted him to peacetime Germany as a medical doctor, during which time their first child was born in Portland.  After returning, Martin never let Marian out of his sight.

They lived in Chicago and Salt Lake City adding two more lovely daughters to the family, while Martin accomplished final training and four hospital residencies.  They returned to Portland and welcomed another two children to the clan.  Martin was finally able to practice medicine on his own while Marian ran the household.  In 1959 Martin was the first orthopedic doctor to open an office in East Portland, which at the time was mostly farmland. He was integral to the designing of the original and very modern Gresham Hospital surgical suite, and ultimately had one of the longest surgical tenures in the Providence Portland system – all in all 50 years of medical practice.  He was highly regarded throughout the Portland medical community for his skills, innovation, teamwork and compassion.

In devoted partnership with Marian, Martin and their five children lived, worked, played and attended church in the Parkrose area until an empty-nest move to Gresham in the mid-1980s.    Their faith and social life centered around Resurrection Lutheran Church, Concordia College, Holden Village and Portland Lutheran.  Martin served in trustee and other leadership roles for many organizations and was admired for his calm and thoughtful demeanor, always cutting through to the core of an issue with solutions.   Besides his time, he and Marian quietly gave generously to these and other important causes.

Looking back to his carpenter leanings, Martin developed a decades-long love for classic and antique cars.   Martin and Marian had numerous friends through car clubs over the years, and the stories abound about touring trips and fun times.

They stayed close to home enjoying both central Oregon and the coast, and seeing many grandchildren born.  Their favorite love expression was three taps on the hand or shoulder to say “I Love You”.   Martin’s love of his life passed away in 2003 after 50 wonderful years of marriage that were such an inspiration to all who knew them.

Above everything else, Martin cared deeply about people and always took time to listen, care and advise, delighting everyone he encountered with his wit, intelligence, humility and unique ability to flirt!

Martin is survived by his children Sandra Bottens (St Helens OR), Mary Meranda (Ashtabula OH and husband Michael), Patricia Mueller, Nancy Horton (Lake Oswego, OR and husband Brad) and John Mueller (West Linn, OR and wife Lori), as well as his siblings Richard Mueller (Hood River, OR) and Marilyn Honsinger (Story City, IA).   His 10 grandchildren, each with their own special relationship with Grandpa Mueller even though they live in 8 different locations are:  Emily, Erica (husband Brian and great-grandchildren Claire and Kyle), Eryn, Jacob (wife Andrea), James, Jenna, Megan, Nathana el, Taylor and Zachary.  He has numerous loving nephews and nieces and their children all over the world, together with friends and colleagues who mourn his passing.

Donations may be made to the Marian Lee Mueller Memorial Scholarship for Nursing (Concordia University, 2811 Holman Street, Portland, OR 97211), or Resurrection Lutheran Church Memorial Fund (1700 NE 132 ^nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97230).