Posted on 24 June 2022.
1950-2022
Ranger Steve (Steven Joel) Mueller was born on August 13, 1950, to Richard and Elaine Mueller in Saginaw, Michigan, and died in his Cedar Springs home on June 16, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Karen; daughters, Jenny Jo (Michael) Collin and Julianne (Charlie) Lemmink; grandchildren, DJ and Matilda Collin and Walden Lemmink; brothers, Mike (Janet) and Tom; in-laws, John (Marie), Jeff (Sally), and Steve (Betty) Duzan; as well as a niece, nephews, and many great friends. He had special bonds with dogs, Josh Wolara (favorite), Ody Brook (best), and BeeGee (most wonderful). He became an unofficial “Big Brother” for Ted, Amie, and Ross McNeel when their father, Wakelin, was hit and killed on his bicycle. Wake was Ranger Steve’s friend, college advisor, and mentor. As a child, Ranger Steve explored habitats near his home and developed a passion for nature and conservation. He enjoyed a varied and rich career as a park ranger, urban forester, teacher, professor, and director of multiple nature centers, including a lengthy career as director of the Howard Christensen Nature Center. Surrounding his home, he established Ody Brook Nature Sanctuary, a nature preserve for enhancing biodiversity and cultivating native species. The site is a hotspot for birds and butterflies. Rare federally threatened American Chestnut trees live in the sanctuary, including the largest one most people have seen. With the support of the Land Conservancy of West Michigan, the sanctuary has recentlay acquired a conservation easement ensuring that the land cannot be developed. Ranger Steve welcomed visitors who valued and respected the needs of plants and animals. Many local nature groups made regular field trips to the sanctuary, and college interns gained work experience under his guidance. The sanctuary not only provided purpose for his life but was essential medicine while combating Multiple Myeloma, as important as his chemotherapy treatments and bone marrow transplants. Ranger Steve remained active in professional organizations, including the Lepidopterists’ Society (butterflies and moths), the National Association for Interpretation (park naturalists, museum and zoo educator professionals), the Land Conservancy, the National Audubon Society, and numerous other conservation and education organizations, as well as the Grand Rapids Camera Club. He served as president for multiple organizations, and received several prestigious awards for his contributions and accomplishments. He celebrated his faith and shared his passion for creation as a member of the United Methodist Church in Cedar Springs. His Lepidoptera research collections are deposited in research facilities, universities and museums across the USA and Canada. He has been acknowledged by authors in several butterfly books for his contributions, and he discovered a new species of moth, Grammia brillians (now called Apantesis brillians) at Bryce Canyon National Park. He led nature tours, coordinated natural history outings and field trips, and took students to the tropical rainforests of Belize and Costa Rica. He authored the “Ranger Steve’s Nature Niche” newspaper column and contributed articles to more than 25 conservation and education publications. He published hundreds of popular articles that encouraged people to explore the natural world, wrote scientific papers for journals, and promoted Creation Care for all species with whom we share the world. He considered people “a part” of nature and not “apart” from nature. In 1970, he wrote that, “people are made of the environment and are born into it; therefore, they cannot be divorced from it, even by death.” More recently, he said that when he dies he will flutter away on the gossamer wings of a butterfly and will be among us when we commune with and protect nature. May those who loved him find joy in this communion. His parting thought was that 1,000 lifetimes are inadequate to provide service for the benefit of others or for project completion, so carry on his efforts to ensure future generations inherit a sustainable planet. Make your actions for “we” and not “me” and you will enjoy a prosperous purpose and meaning for your life. Donations in his honor may be made to the Lepidopterists’ Society, the Howard Christensen Nature Center, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, or organizations of your choice that actively promote Creation Care. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 25, 2022 at Cedar Springs United Methodist Church, (140 S Main, Cedar Springs). Visitation: 11:00 a.m. Service: 12:00 p.m. Luncheon: 1:00 p.m.