Fred “Slick” Mueller, Jr

May15, 1939 - January 29, 2024

Fred “Slick” Mueller, Jr. (84) was born to Fred & Bernice Mueller in New Athens, Illinois. He had 5 siblings: James, Shirley, Fern, Grace & Ilene. After graduating New Athens High School, Slick worked at Peabody Coal Company, as a shop teacher & also opened his own machine shop. At the age of 18, Slick built & patented a rope making machine which he later deemed the “Rope Master”.

In 1966, Slick married the love of his life, Grace, and had 2 children, Frederick & Shawna. Slick moved the family “Out West” in 1972, to work as a welder and later a machinist, at a new mine opening up called Decker Coal Company. Slick worked at Decker Coal for 29 years until his retirement in 2001.

Throughout his lifetime, Slick continued to build & sell his rope machines to hundreds of people & a few museums including the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in South Dakota & 2 machines to the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. His rope machine  spread worldwide from Canada to England to Australia. Thru the years. Slick also enjoyed attending many national ropemaking conventions & was awarded the title of Master Ropemaker by the American Ropemakers Guild in 2006.

Slick was probably best known for his math skills & mastery as a machinist, his tremendous knowledge & understanding of machinery, and of course, his vast collection of antique Allis Chalmer tractors. Slick was also featured on the cover of Front-line magazine(December 1996) with his 1935 Allis Chalmer U tractor.

Slick dearly loved his family & friends. And because of his gift to gab, he hardly knew a stranger for long - largely because, as he liked to put it, “There’s never been a story told that couldn’t be improved upon”.

Preceded in death were his parents, Fred & Bernice Mueller, brother James(Rosie) Mueller, sister Shirley (Alvin) Stoops, all of New Athens, IL, & sister Grace Covyeau of Conifer, CO. Slick is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Grace Mueller, son Frederick Mueller both of Sheridan, WY, daughter Shawna (Bill) Olson of Story, WY, sisters Fern (Joe)Reiker of DuBois, PA & Ilene (Ed) Briner of Downers Grove, IL & many nieces & nephews.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life for Slick at Kane Funeral Home at 10:00am on Saturday February 17^th, 2024.  Immediately following service, interment will take place at Sheridan Municipal Cemetery Juniper Heights Section.  A reception will follow at the Eagles on Commercial Drive with Slick’s favorite food-Fried Chicken, Oscar Meyer Hot Dogs & Hamburgers. Bring a side dish.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com.

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Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.

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