Lombard village president dies after catching West Nile virus
BY HUNTER CLAUSS Staff Reporter hclauss@suntimes.com August 18, 2012 11:50PM
William J. “Bill” Mueller, 76, had served as village president since 1993. / Village of Lombard.
Updated: August 21, 2012 9:07PM
The long-time village president of west suburban Lombard died on Saturday from complications caused by the West Nile virus, village officials said.
William J. “Bill” Mueller, 76, had served as village president since 1993. In 2008, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a bone-marrow cancer.
He was hospitalized on Aug. 5 and died Saturday.
Mueller leaves behind his wife, Eileen, two daughters and four grandchildern.
“Our father was truly a servant leader and everything he did was for others,” Mueller’s daughters, Donna Fruehe and Debbe Rapata, said in a statement. “We feel sincerely blessed. He was an amazing dad, husband and grandpa.”
The family statement also said they wanted to “thank everyone for the outpouring of thoughts and prayers. It has been amazing and has strengthened us to get through this difficult time.” Funeral arrangements were pending.
