Gary L. Muller

Jun 11, 1962 -

Jul 13, 2025

In one final act of rebellion, Gary Muller went home on July 13, 2025, at the age of 63, rather than follow his doctors' orders and retire. He was born on June 11, 1962, with a bad heart, which he obviously considered a challenge, he set a record for the youngest person to survive open heart surgery. He outlived that first prognosis by nearly six decades, and in so doing, set the stage for what would become a lifetime of ignoring and defying the collected wisdom of western medicine.

Born in LaCross, Wis., to Thomas and Dee Anna Muller, his family soon found their way to Whittier, Alaska, and ultimately the Kenai Peninsula where he lived, worked and played all his life. Gary was a lover and a fighter. In his younger years, he had 127 boxing matches, including six professional matches at which time the boxing commission realized he couldn't possibly box with the heart condition he'd been steadfastly ignoring while punching people all over the place. He loved many things including hunting, fishing and living in Alaska. He loved racing cars, boats, snowmachines, dirt bikes, jet skis and anything fast. He loved building, fixing and restoring cars. He was absolutely the greatest mechanic in the world. His unparalleled wisdom, instincts, experience and work ethic worked miracles on the road, on the oil platform and at the racetrack. He loved singing, dancing, good food, better whiskey, family and friends and when he had all of those together, he even loved karaoke. Lately, he'd been spending time in Arizona with friends and family who live there and enjoying golf and sunshine. He took immense joy and pride in the lives and successes of all his children and grandchildren and encouraged and supported them as best he could in every sport, hobby and stupid idea they came up with to force him to travel all over creation and watch. The greatest love of his life was his wife, Karlene. He pursued her relentlessly for years before they shocked everyone they knew and married in Cupid's Chapel in Las Vegas, Nev. Together they made each other happy, albeit absolutely crazy, for more than 30 years. Gary had a zeal for life that was difficult for normal people to keep up with. He lit up a room like an electrical fire. He never met a joke that was too inappropriate to share at a wedding. Loud, boisterous, irreverent and intentionally offensive, he was beloved by everyone who knew him.

He leaves a string of broken hearts including his wife, Karlene; his many children by blood, marriage and sheer force of will, including Michelle and Jason Gagnon, Michael Muller, Jess and Abigail Sheldon and Chanel Sheldon; and grandchildren, Kruize, Ryder, Gaige, Korban, Sherman, Wyatt, Shaid, Mazin, Dietrich and Savvy.

Services will be Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 3 p.m., at the All American Training Center. Potluck reception to follow. Casual attire.

In lieu of flowers, please spend your money on racecars, moose hunting or youth sports, as that's where all of Gary's money went anyway.