Carol Jane (Sanders) Muller, 83, Salina, passed away Sunday, June 7, 2020, at the Salina Presbyterian Manor in Salina. Carol was a longtime resident of Minneapolis, Hesston and Salina.
Carol was born on Nov. 11, 1936, in Tecumseh Neb., to Will and Fannie (Gumbel) Sanders. Her formative years were spent in Solomon, where she graduated high school in 1954. She was united in marriage to Leo Muller in 1958, and together they raised four children. Following Leo’s death in 1999, Carol married Monroe Funk in 2002, and that marriage continued until Monroe’s death in 2019.
Carol loved to learn and had a variety of interests. While in her 40s, Carol began her long-deferred pursuit of a college degree, ultimately graduating with honors from Kansas State University with a BS degree in Elementary Education. She taught in the Minneapolis elementary school for 15 years and helped shape the minds and character of hundreds of students. She imparted to her children and her students a love for literature, art, music and history, and was herself an accomplished writer, musician, gardener and cook. She authored two books: Golden Love, based on her late-in-life marriage to Monroe, and Proxmire and the Exodus of Prairieville, a children’s book. In addition, she sang in the Salina Chorale and the Salina United Methodist Church choir and was an avid traveler, collector, pianist, seamstress and a passionate KSU Wildcat fan. Guided by her faith, she supported several philanthropic causes and served as a senior housing ombudsman. She was happiest when her family was gathered around and she always took great effort to make every holiday and birthday an extra special occasion.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Will and Fannie Sanders; husbands, Leo Muller and Monroe Funk; brother, Dale Sanders; and sister, Marilyn Struble.
She is survived by her children, Doug Muller of Tescott, Kathy McHenry (Craig) of Minneapolis, Marcia Carlson (Kent) of Hesston, and Tom Muller of Blue Springs, Mo.; Monroe’s children, Bev Friesen (Joel), Deb Brubaker (Dale) and Brad Funk (Sharon); brother, Dean Sanders; and sisters, Alice Burch and Sally Stewart. In addition, she was the loving grandmother to Will, Jaimie, Kacia, Madison, Jaidyn, Eric, Katie, Jamie, Jeremy, Ben, Emily and Ethan, and a great-grandmother to Jagger, Emmalee, Adalyn, Jaden, Rebecca, Joanna, Gracie, Emma, Noah, Brynne, Sydney, Charlotte, Campbell and Claire.
Despite the challenges brought on by dementia and physical ailments over the final years of her life, Carol maintained a sense of humor, dignity, patience and an unwavering belief in Christ’s love. She touched many lives and will be missed by all that knew her.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Carol’s life will be celebrated at a graveside service at 10 a.m. Friday, June 12, at Roselawn Memorial Park in Salina. Visitation without the family present will be from 2-5 p.m., Thursday, at Wilson Family Funeral Home, 405 Argyle Ave., Minneapolis, Kan., 67467. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salina Chorale, Minneapolis Public Library, or Jo Nana Lunches (make checks payable to USD-239) and may be left in care of the funeral home.
