"So saddened to hear of Kristen's passing. I worked with Kristen at Mayo. Her big smile and sense of humor was infectious. Kristen was very kind and caring. She will be missed. I wish peace and healing to her family and friends."
In loving memory of
Kristen Marie Mueller
July 1, 1970 - March 5, 2020
Kristen Mueller, age 49, of Utica, MN, died at her home on Thursday, March 5th, 2020.
Kristen Marie Schroeder was born on July 1st, 1970 at Zumbrota Hospital to Melvin and Janet Schroeder. She attended Pine Island Schools where she was active in volleyball, basketball, and softball. After graduation, she attended Mankato State University, and later at the University of Minnesota Duluth where she graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice.
Kristen married Robert Sinning on October 5th, 1991 and lived in Alameda, California for a short time before moving back to Minnesota and finishing college in Duluth. Rob and Kristen had two sons, Colton and Austin, while living there before moving back to Pine Island. They were later divorced.
In May of 2018, Kristen married Thomas Mueller and moved to Utica, MN. She enjoyed her flower gardens, cooking, and raising puppies.
Kristen was employed for many years as a secretary for the Pine Island Schools, and for some of that time, she was the head volleyball coach and assistant girls basketball coach. She later worked at the Mayo Clinic.
Kristen is survived by her husband, Tom; sons, Colton and Austin Sinning; mother, Janet Johnston; sister, Stacy (Rob) Warneke; brother, Chad (Malea) Schroeder; stepson, Keith (Magda) Mueller; stepdaughters, Megan (Mike) Zeches, and Samantha (Dan) Wong; nephews, Ben, Will, Sam, Seth, and Caleb; and nieces, Aleasha, Eliza and Brooke.
She was preceded in death by her father, Melvin Schroeder and her stepfather, James Johnston.
There will be a service at Hoff Funeral Service in St. Charles on Tuesday, March 10th at 1:00pm with a visitation following until 3:00pm.
Tributes
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Jan and the entire family. We have so many fond memories of Kristen. Rest in peace beautiful sole."
"Our thoughts and prayers with all the family and friends! Great memories throughout the years! "
"Such a vivacious young lady . . . . simply gone too soon. I loved every story that your mother shared with me. May you rest in peace with your dad and step-dad."
" Michael Weber
Thank you To Brenda Swanson for the memories of Kristen. The slide show captured the memory Kristen in a good way. Thank you for the walk down memory lane. I also enjoyed the other Tributes. It is a very nice way to remember Kristen. Love and Prayers go out to everyone that Kristen touched. Kristen you will be missed."
"I cannot believe Kristen is gone. I worked with her in the Legal Department at Mayo Clinic for a short time and we shared many laughs since she sat right behind me. She had a very outgoing personality so it was easy to get to know her. My prayers and sympathies go out to her family. Rhonda Hoffman, Berne, MN"
"Kristen and I started off as rivals in 7th grade, competing against each other in volleyball, basketball, and softball. The friendly competitions we had against each other for the following six years are ones that I will never forget. We both loved our sports and respected each other for that. As luck would have it, seven years later, we found each other living in Duluth and playing volleyball together. Over the next 20 years, our competitive relationship turned into a close friendship. The trips we took together were so much fun, and ALWAYS an adventure. I remember our first trip to the Apostle Islands, sitting in the cabin of our boat and talking with Kristen for hours. I remember thinking how nice it was to get to know her better. We explored the islands together and had so many laughs. The Sinnings were out on Lake Superior with us multiple times, from big trips to Isle Royale and The Apostles, to little evening fishing adventures just out of Two Harbors. We traveled to Costa Rica together, ran 10ks and half marathons, spent multiple New Years celebrations in the Canadian wilderness together. We snowshoed, snowmobiled, 4-wheeled. Nearly all of these adventures involved Colton and Austin. The priceless smile on Kristen's face when Austin caught a huge fish, or when Colton produced a clever video is something I will always remember. She and Rob raised two amazing, wonderful boys and did so in a quiet and humble way. The passing of my friend, Kristen, deeply saddens me. I am so sorry to the family for your loss. May you hold tight to the wonderful memories that you shared, because I know for certain there are thousands of them. Brenda, Two Harbors "
"Kristen, my friend, my coach, my coworker. I?ve seen her through so many stages of life, at each her beautiful smile and willingness to support and be an amazing friend. Kristin used to call me down to the middle school office in Pine Island just to see how I was doing and spend time with me. What a special soul - you will forever be missed and loved. "
"Kristen was one of a kind. Always having a smile and a kind words for everyone. She will be forever missed. Rest in peace Kristen."
"Prayers to the family during this difficult time. While I cannot attend the service you will be in my thoughts. Beautiful person inside and out. Was fortunate to know her in high school and then again at Mayo Clinic when she worked in the Department of Nursing. Kristen you will be missed. "
"Kristen, whom we all called Sinning was an amazing person. Whether we needed advice, a laugh, a hug, or just a familiar face we would stop by the middle school office. As we grew up, she eventually became our volleyball coach. She allowed us to have fun and enjoy the game. She always encouraged us and truly loved being around the team. Sinning will be greatly missed, especially from the class of the class of 2006 volleyball team. "
"Some of my fondest memories of my youth involve Kris. I will always remember Kris, Stacy and I riding on a big inner tube down the branch of the Zumbro River from the bridge by their house to my back yard singing ?three pretty ladies on a fat fat tube, floating down the Zumbro River...? laughing and having so much fun! Or the endless hours of pretending we were ?Charlie?s Angles? and even as adults when we went to the movie theater together to see the first ?Charlie?s Angles? movie together. Laughing as we were leaving the movie when Kris, still in full Charlie?s Angel mode, karate kicked the door open as we left the theater. I will hold dear those memories and many more that I have of Kris. Kris, my dear friend and cousin, I love and miss you more than words can express. Lori (Pederson) Christenson"
"Whenever I visited Pune Island schools Kristen was always a smiling friendly face and had small seemingly endless supply of funny stories. She and Rob opened their home to my students when we visited from Bemidji. My condolences to the families and thoughts and prayers to friends and family now and in the times to come. Greg Moen Bemidji, MN"
"Spent a many summers with the family and swam in the river. A beautiful soul this girl was. I will miss you so very much. "