Colleen Kaye Muller

Colleen Kaye Muller, 75, passed away on Friday, July 12, 2024 at Chandler Regional Medical Center, Chandler, AZ. Memorial services will be held Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 10:00 AM at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, 2540 W. Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ, and Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the Ithaca United Methodist Church, 302 7th Street, Ithaca, NE.

Colleen was born to Rodger and Genevieve McKlem on January 28, 1949, in Wahoo, NE. Colleen grew up on a farm near Ithaca and graduated from Wahoo High School in 1967. She obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at the University of NE in 1971 and 1974. In 1971 she began her 30-year math teaching career in the Oakland-Craig School District, Oakland, NE, and continued teaching math at Bellevue High School in 1976 and then Bellevue West High School from 1977-1983. In 1983 Colleen relocated with her husband, Lyle, to Mesa. AZ, and continued teaching until her retirement in 2004. She spent her entire Mesa career teaching math at Poston Jr High School in Mesa. In those 30 years of teaching Colleen was fortunate to maintain many lasting friendships with fellow educators in both Nebraska and Arizona.

On October 25, 1980, she married Lyle Muller at Ithaca United Methodist Church, Ithaca, NE. On January 8, 1987, they welcomed a baby girl, Anna Kathryne “Katie”.

Colleen’s favorite past times were reading, sewing, and quilting. Nothing was more rewarding than making quilts for people, especially her daughter and granddaughters.

She was an active member of St. Matthew United Methodist Church since 1983, sang in the choir for many years, and participated in a variety of committees and responsibilities. Out of this involvement with the church, Colleen developed long-standing friendships, not the least being a member of the “Bunketts,” Bunko group, meeting every 3rd Monday for over 35 years.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Rodger and Genevieve McKlem, brother Dick McKlem, nephew Calvin McKlem, and brother-in-law, Hans Suomi.

Colleen is survived by her husband, of 43 years, Lyle, of Chandler, AZ, her daughter Anna Kathryne “Katie”, granddaughters Kendra and Londyn, son-in-law Aron Nielsen, and step granddaughter’s, Elianna, Paxtynn, and Chayce, all of Omaha, NE; sister Jane Suomi of Mesa, AZ, brother Mel McKlem of O’Neil, NE, along with many cousins and extended family members and friends.

Arizona services will be held Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 10:00 AM at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, 2540 W. Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ. Nebraska services will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 11:00 AM, at the Ithaca United Methodist Church, 302 7th Street, Ithaca, NE.

Memorials have been established in Colleen’s honor at St. Matthew United Methodist Church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitney & Murphy Bueler Mortuary in Chandler, AZ. Expressions of caring can be sent to the family at info@buelermortuary.com