Joanna M. Mueller-Hunt

Joanna Monika Mueller-Hunt, age 72 years of Niles, Michigan; wife, step-mother, grandmother, sister, artist, fly-fisherwoman, and business owner died peacefully at 4:52 a.m. on Monday, January 8, 2024 at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals – Niles following an extended battle against cancer.  Her family is grateful for all of the healthcare professionals who have fought the battle, especially Dr. Ansari and the staff of Michiana Hematology Oncology (MHO) who have treated her as a member of the family.

She was born on February 14, 1951 in Little Falls, Minnesota to Zygmunt and Helena (Zogretski) Mueller who came to the United States from Europe through Ellis Island in 1949.  She was graduated from Little Falls Community High School, and her siblings remember that she had learned to sew, making clothing for herself and her younger sisters.  She also mastered many handcrafts including beading, jewelry, and macramé.  She continued her education at college in Minnesota, developing her skill in visual fine arts including painting and sculpture.  She also enjoyed the skilled handwork and trained eye needed to become successful at fly-fishing, greatly preferring to stand on the riverbank or river bottom, rather than sitting in a fishing boat.

Joanna was first married to Robert Fisher, and they came to Niles in 1988.  He tragically lost his life in a motor vehicle accident in 1997.  On March 19. 1998 on Sanibel Island, Florida she married Joseph M. Hunt with whom she celebrated last year the Twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedding.

She joined Joe at J M Hunt Drywall & Plastering – both of their initials being “J.M.” – and found ways to use her talents as an artist to provide interior decorating services in painting and wallpapering, as well as some exterior house painting and woodwork refinishing.  At home, she enjoyed handcrafts such as knitting and crochet, and she and Joe both preferred reading to anything offered on the television.  She was a member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles.

In addition to her first husband, Bob Fisher, she was preceded in death by her parents, and by two brothers, Kazimir Mueller and Richard Mueller.

Surviving family includes her husband, Joe Hunt and his children, Michelle Hunt (& Moses Nanga) of Middletown, Delaware, Lisa Rachelle Hunt (& Chris Roman) of Buchanan, Michigan, and Jylian Marie Hunt (& Jeffrey James) of Henderson, Kentucky; grandchildren Shelbi Hunt, Moira Nanga, Maggie James, and Ana-Leigh Hunt; Joanna’s siblings, Jerry (& Lola) Mueller of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Christiana (& Jerzy Miler) Mueller of Vermillion, Minnesota, and Anita Mueller of Lewisburg, Tennessee; several nieces and nephews of two generations, and relatives throughout Canada and Europe.

The family of Joanna Mueller-Hunt will gather privately to share memories and honor her life.  Contributions in memory of Joann may be made to Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1340 Sycamore Street, Niles, Michigan 49120, https://www.stpaulsniles.org/.  Arrangements were completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  Online condolences and memories may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Joanna’s quiet personality worked well with the solitude of an artist, and the contemplation of fly-fishing, and even the decorating trade.  But she made the world more attractive through her art, and helping folks freshen their houses.  And she loved those closest to her, especially Joe; fulfilling the command to love God and love people.