Paul Mueller dies at 99

The founder and namesake of stainless steel equipment manufacturer Paul Mueller Co. (OTC: MUEL) died Jan. 19 at his Springfield home. Paul Mueller was 99.

A visitation is scheduled 5 p.m. Jan. 23 at the White River Conference Center, 600 W. Sunshine St., followed by a private memorial service at a later date, according to an online obituary at Legacy.com.

A memorial on the Springfield company’s website announced his death.

“Paul Mueller was generous, modest, compassionate and inquisitive throughout his long and productive life. His intelligence, impeccable character and devotion to quality have left an enduring mark on what we do every day,” the announcement reads.

Mueller and business partner Gordon Mann opened Mann and Mueller Heating and Sheet Metal Works in 1940 with one employee. The company name changed to Paul Mueller Co. in 1943 after Mann became ill and sold his share of the business to Mueller. The company was incorporated in Missouri in 1946, according to Muel.com.

Now, the company manufactures equipment for customers on a global scale and last reported sales of $51.3 million for the third quarter ended Sept. 30. Its assets were $114 million at the time. The company employs around 1,000, with 600 at its headquarters operating out of over 1 million square feet on 50 acres at 1600 W. Phelps St.

A forerunner to other stainless steel manufacturers in the area, Mueller Co. also has manufacturing and sales operations in Iowa, the Netherlands and Vietnam. The company builds and sells products for the food, dairy, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, power and fuel industries, according to a news release.

Mueller’s grandson, David Moore, currently serves as the company’s president and CEO.