Alois Mueller, 87, a refugee from Romania who immigrated to the U.S. and became a custodian at Northwestern University, died Thursday, March 16, at his Arlington Heights home of heart failure. Born on a farm, Mr. Mueller quit school after the 4th grade to help his parents grow corn and potatoes. Invading Nazis forced his family out of Romania in 1940. Mr. Mueller lived in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany, and was drafted into the German military near the end of World War II. He served under Allied occupation forces until 1947, and ultimately joined distant relatives living in the Chicago area in 1956. Mr. Mueller lived on Chicago’s North Side until 1987, when he moved to Arlington Heights. Survivors include his wife, Anna; two sons, Raphael and Joe; two daughters, Erika Zettlmeier and Abby Wrehde; two sisters, Rosalia Mueller and Katharina Dingler; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Matz Funeral Home, 410 E. Rand Rd., Mt. Prospect. A mass will be said at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Cecilia’s Church, 700 S. Meier Rd., Mt. Prospect.
