Chaplain Lloyd Russel Muilenburg
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Lloyd Russel Muilenburg, 85, Topeka, "Absent from the body, present with the Lord", June 9, 2013.
Lloyd was born October 3, 1927 on a farm near Hull, IA to Peter L. and Minnie (Korver) Muilenburg. The family moved to Sibley, IA in 1932 where he received his schooling, graduating from high school in 1946. In 1948 he joined the U.S. Navy, serving on Guam for 28 months. He was reassigned to the USS Curtis AV4 in July, 1951. Aboard ship, he tended the ship's store until his discharge in June 1952. While aboard ship, a group of the sailors formed a quartet in which he sang tenor. In the fall of 1952, he entered college in Dubuque, IA. He completed 2 years at Dubuque and transferred to Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD where he graduated in 1956 with a B.A. degree.
Upon graduating, he married Margaret A. Moet on June 8, 1956. They moved to Dubuque, IA, where Lloyd began his Theological Seminary education. He graduated from Seminary on June 2, 1959 with a B.D. degree. Lloyd had made application for the U.S. Army Chaplaincy in February, 1959 and entered active duty July 3, 1959. He faithfully served his country for 16 years as an Army Chaplain including two tours of duty in Vietnam, and served posts in Germany and various locations in the United States, including Alaska. After retiring, he moved to Topeka in 1975 where he became a Chaplain at St. Francis Hospital and Presbyterian Manor. He was preceded in death by Margaret in 1993.
Lloyd married Mary Van Slyke on March 26, 1994 and they recently celebrated 19 years of marriage. She survives. Other survivors include his children, Gregory A. (Sharon) Muilenburg, Mason, Ohio, Dr. Jeffrey J. (Cyndi) Muilenburg, Aurora, NE, Sheri L. (Marc) Bokelman, Evergreen, CO; Mary's children, James K. (Patti) Van Slyke II, Topeka, Dorothy (Doug) Iliff, Topeka, Joanna (David) Kimbal, Rincon, GA, Elizabeth (Thomas, Jr) Groff, Gardner, KS; 17 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and sister, Phyllis LaCour, Sibley, IA. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Virgil Muilenburg.
He was a member of Central Presbyterian Church, Shepherd's Center of Topeka, Brewster Chorus, and Thursday Leader's Group.
A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 14, 2013 at Central Presbyterian Church. Private burial will take place at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Lloyd will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 13, 2013.
Memorial contributions may be made to Topeka Rescue Mission, PO Box 8350, Topeka, KS 66608, or Brewster Foundation, 1205 SW 29th, Topeka, KS 66611 or Central Presbyterian Church, 920 SW Huntoon, Topeka, KS 66604.
The devoted husband to Janet Kay Muilenburg for 54 years and proud father of four children, Lesa Daniel, Bret Muilenburg, Troy Muilenburg, and Kent Muilenburg. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, each blessed by his influence.
Virgil was an easy going man, loved and respected for his family devotion, admirable morality and ethics, easy conversation, and kindness to all. He served the youth of the community through 13 years of Little League Baseball and Pop Warner Football coaching, and 8 years as a U.S. Naval Academy Information Officer, along with many other community services.
Virgil dedicated his working life to our Nation's space program employed as an engineer by Rocketdyne, Boeing, General Dynamics - Convair, and Lockheed-Martin. His most noteworthy contributions were to the Atlas/Centaur, Titan/Centaur, and Saturn V/Apollo programs.
As a final act of selfless service, Virgil's tissues have been donated to the Southeast Tissue Alliance for research into the little known disease of Amyloidosis.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the North Brevard Funeral Home in Titusville, Florida.