From Teri Mueller (sister):

John Alan Mueller was a nurse. An RN for many many years. He was very good at nursing. He got his masters degree in the latter part of his career and spent the last 11 years before retirement in 2019 as a nurse educator. He moved to Sacramento in the late 80's after marrying the love of his life, Brian Bartlett.  He loved all people, but had a close knit group of friends. 

He worked in a neo natal ICU earlier in his career in CA. He cared for a preemie that was born at approx. 23 weeks to a mother who tried to abort the pregnancy. Amanda has cerebal palsy and lung issues. Alan and Brian fell in love with this baby and persuaded the mom to let them adopt her in an open adoption. The doctors advised against adopting because they felt Amanda would never walk, talk, learn- if she survived long at all. With much loving care from both Brian and Alan she not only walks and talks, she graduated HS in the special needs program and will be 32 in December. Alan and Brian divorced about 26 years ago. But continued to effectively co-parent up until Alan was put under hospice care.

Alan and Amanda loved Disneyland and took many trips there through the years.

Alan was diagnosed with melanoma approximately 4 years ago. As you can imagine, it spread fairly quickly to a stage 4. He fought long and hard, but the best he could get was a stable stage 4.

He was admitted to the hospital several times in Jan and Feb of this year. Though the cancer was stable, the chemo he was on caused congestive heart failure and his body was too tired and weak to fight any longer.

He expressed to me several times through the years that he didn't feel he had really done anything with his life. I always told him that wasn't true and wished I could give him a "Mr Holland's Opus" moment.

Being 11 yrs and 9 yrs younger, Alan did a lot for Craig and I growing up. He took me shopping often and even bought me my first training bras 🤣. He took me to get my ears pierced on a day I was home "sick" from school. My birthday is in January so I was so disappointed in 1979 that the streets in downtown Billings were nothing but thick ice with ruts. Mom said no on the driving test to get my license. Alan came to the rescue! With Mom's car, of course! I passed thank goodness.

It was an honor for me to be able to leave my nursing job in WA state to go to CA and care for Alan and get to know Amanda so much more during the last 3 months of Alan's time with us.

He was preceded in death by our brother, Brad, who passed at the age of 13 from cancer in 1970. Also our mom, Patricia and our dad, John. 

He is survived by his ex husband Brian, daughter Amanda, Sisters Maridee Hargis (Mike) and Terinda Mueller and brother, Craig as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.

He wished to be cremated and had assignments for Brian and I as to where he wanted his ashes spread. 

He is greatly missed.