Richard Mullen

Richard "Pete" Mullen, age 87, passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at home.

Pete was a student, teacher, athlete, farmer, and poor card player. He was born December 19, 1935, to the late Perry and Verna (Luedtke) Mullen on the original Mullen Homestead in the Town of Osborn. Pete was the sixth of seven children, born in the midst of the Great Depression. Pete was the youngest of four brothers born within a five-year span. Hand me downs were quite common as were Saturday night baths, gas lights, and our daily chores.

Pete and his siblings all attended the Pioneer Public School, a redbrick, one classroom rural school which still stands on French Road in Osborn. An almost two-mile trek was common in the younger days until replaced with a brother's bicycle.

Pete and his siblings, Eunice, Audrey, Eldred "Gus", Lavern "PeeWee, Moon", Glenn and Doris later attended Seymour High School. Pete was not a standout student academically, but loved school and was very involved in school activities. He participated in track, football and basketball, his first love, and was a member of two tournament squads. He was also in school plays, and King of the Homecoming his senior year. In all, he spent 62 years in the classroom from grade one on until his retirement from teaching in 2007.

Following graduation from high school, Pete volunteered for the military draft and was inducted into the U.S. Army, and after basic training in Ft. Leonard Wood and Camp Gorden Signal Corps, he was then stationed in France, Camp Maginot in Verdun, and Camp Gradinon, near Bordeaux, for 18 months.

Following his military experience, Pete was accepted to the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he spent five years gaining a Bachelor's Degree in Natural Science and a Master's Degree in Science Education. Three years later, following a teaching stint in South Milwaukee, he was awarded a National Science Foundation Grant to attend the University of Minnesota to do some post Master's study in science. His education was financed partly through the GI Bill, and partly due to part time work in the University Hospitals and frugal living.

Following graduation, Pete first taught a year in West Allis Lane Jr High, and then began a long teaching career at South Milwaukee High School, teaching Biology, some Earth Science, and Advanced Biology. He was the Science Department Chairman for a total of 27 years and taught for 45 years, 43 years at South Milwaukee before retiring in 2007. Pete loved teaching, and was honored with a Gingko tree being planted next to his Biology room upon his retirement.

Pete also loved the family farm, and all through his early teaching, he assisted his parents with the farm work on weekends and summers. He loved the exercise and being with family and cherished being the steward of the family homestead. He purchased the farm from his mother shortly after his father Perry died suddenly in 1979. Pete continued to operate the farm with some assistance from a neighbor, raising some crops and caring for heifers. In August of 2017, Pete accepted a plaque at the Wisconsin State Fair for being the owner of a Sesquicentennial Farm.

Pete also loved athletics, playing High School basketball, and playing in leagues until after his 45th birthday, but a self-proclaimed loser in golf. Following retirement, he remained active, with a brisk three or four mile walk every day, reading, and card playing to help retain good health.

He is survived by his sister, Eunice Wilson; sisters-in-law: Donna Mullen, Marlene Mullen; 13 nieces and nephews; and quite a few great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Audrey (James) Rogers, Doris Mullen; brothers: Glenn Mullen, Eldred (Pat) Mullen, Lavern Mullen; brothers-in-law Eugene Wilson and James Rogers, and god son Mike Rogers.

Visitation will take place at Muehl-Boettcher Funeral Home, 358 South Main Street, Seymour, WI on Saturday December 16, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Funeral services for Pete will be held at the funeral home at 1:00 PM with Deacon Gary Vanness officiating. Military Honors to follow from Seymour Post 106.

Burial will take place at the St. Nicholas Cemetery in the family plot next to his parents at a later date.