Jean Wentworth Mueller

Jean Wentworth Mueller died Friday, May 9, 2025. She was 100 years old, and completed a bucket list item by surpassing her 100th birthday.

Betty Jean was born April 28, 1925, in Dewey, Oklahoma to Frederick and Mildred Wentworth. Nearly every girl she went to school with was a Betty, so her teachers used her middle name to call on her and she was known as Jean the rest of her life. Though only a fraction of her century of living was spent there, she never missed an opportunity to remind family and friends of her Southern Belle origin.

She met Frederick Arthur Mueller at a USO party and the couple married on August 18, 1946, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They would spend their first married years in Wisconsin near his family, then follow Fred’s career in retail with stops in Hibbing, Boone and Chariton as they began to raise a family. Jean loved their home in Chariton where she made dear friends and hosted many card parties.

Daughters Debra, Candyce, Stacia and son Drake were born to Jean and Fred in their midwestern journey. The Muellers eventually landed in Cedar Rapids, where Fred passed in 1974. Jean continued to work as a bookkeeper until 1988, when she was forced into retirement after surviving a life-altering auto accident. She channeled her energy after that into her art, crafting elaborate quilts which will continue to brighten her loved ones’ homes.

Friendships were precious to Jean. She especially enjoyed the company of Martha Gerstner, Mary Anne Kucera, and Carol Sheetz. They had many adventures together and many, many cups of coffee.

There was an unspoken rule within the extended Mueller family that they would all report for Christmas at Jean’s. Decorating for the one-day celebration took weeks. Every grandchild and great grandchild had a hand stitched, personalized stocking. The recipe for punch will be handed down through generations, as will the peach doves that adorned her flocked tree.

Animals found their way to Jean’s care. Her beloved cats inside the house, and any number of feathered and fur-bearing critters outside. No one saw the beauty of a hungry possum quite like Jean.

In later years, she enjoyed trips to Alabama to visit her daughter, attending Mardi Gras parties and becoming a fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide. She lived fearlessly on her own for nearly 50 years. Jean was a great listener. She had friends that spanned three generations frequently visit to enjoy her company.

She is survived by her children, Debra Loetscher of Mobile, AL, Candy (Mike) Zern, of Arvada, CO, Stacy Baranowski of La Porte City, IA, and Drake (Cathy) Mueller of Granger, IA; grandchildren, Chad Fields, Tony (Sara) Baranowski, Dana Jean (Kris) Howell, Alyssa Mueller, and Sarah Mueller; great-grandchildren, Jacob (Maggie) Fields, Megan Fields, Kaitlyn Jean Fields, Sam Baranowski, Lucy Baranowski, Tony Howell, and Walter Howell. Also surviving are her nieces, Tracey (Colin) Holtzen and Louise (Paul) Murphey and many dear friends that treated Jean as a part of their family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; her sister and brother-in-law, Joy and Bart Lloyd; her nephew, Barry Lloyd; her son-in-law, Tony Baranowski; and her very dear friends Martha and Carol.

Jean often mentioned she couldn’t imagine a world without her in it. Given her outstanding legacy, neither can we.