Martha Ann Mueller

Martha Ann Mueller, of Monrovia, California was born on July 10, 1955, in Hawthorne, California, the oldest child of Roland and Miriam Mueller. She was baptized into the Christian faith on July 31, 1955 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Inglewood, California. She was confirmed in her faith on March 23, 1969 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Long Beach.

Martha grew up in Torrance and Seal Beach, California and attended elementary school in Torrance and Long Beach. A 1973 graduate of Lutheran High School Los Angeles, she held degrees from Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska (now Concordia University Nebraska) and Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan (MA in organ performance). She earned her National Teacher Certification in 2004.

During her career, she served as teacher and church musician at Lutheran congregations in Napoleon, Ohio, Monroe, Michigan, and Whittier, Pacific Palisades and Huntington Beach, California. Upon moving back to California in 1986, she taught in the public school system and at her retirement had taught more than 30 years. She loved leading music for Vacation Bible School each summer at St. John’s Lutheran in Covina. At the time of her death, she was organist and choir director at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Claremont, California.

Martha participated in three international choral concert tours: Mexico in 1977, Europe in 1987, and Japan in 1989.

She loved her music, directing her choirs, spending time with family and friends, reading, George Burns, watching football, and her beloved Los Angeles Dodgers. She loved that she was one week older than Disneyland and that the Dodgers (then of Brooklyn) won their first World Series the year that she was born.

In August 2016, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and was blessed to be treated at City of Hope, the world-renowned cancer center. Her motto for her cancer journey was “To Show Forth the Glory of the Lord!”

Martha served in the ministry of music on Easter Sunday. Later that week, the resurrected Savior called her to join in the eternal Easter celebration in his kingdom.

Martha is survived by her mother: Miriam Mueller, her siblings: John (Anita), Steve (Nina), and Sarah (Dan) Manzanares, and her nephews and nieces: Matthew, Christopher (Tina) and Jacob (Alyssa) Mueller; Jana and Leah Mueller; and Hannah Manzanares.

Martha was preceded in death by her father, Roland Mueller, and her sister-in-law, Lori Mueller. Memorials may be sent to Concordia University Irvine Music and Theology, City of Hope Cancer Research, and St. Luke Lutheran Church.

May God, the Father; our Lord, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit keep her until the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401