Ione Muehlhauser

Ione Harriette Muehlhauser, age 85, a resident of Isanti, Minnesota, died peacefully at home on November 8, 2020, while surrounded by loving family members.

Ione was born on August 18, 1935, at home on the family farm north of Cushing, Wisconsin, to Christian and Martha (Brenizer) Christenson. She was one of six children. Ione went to Bass Lake and Orr grade schools and graduated from Luck High School. She attended Gustavus Adolphus College for one semester and then went to Bethesda Nursing Program in St. Paul, Minnesota.

She married the love of her life, Bruce Muehlhauser, on January 19, 1957, at Laketown Lutheran Church, Cushing, Wisconsin, and they raised four sons together.

Ione had all kinds of hobbies, but her passions where riding horses, writing, artwork and sharing those skills and experiences with her children and grandchildren. She helped to start the 4-H program in Sandstone Minnesota, helping lead many youth toward discovering healthy interests and activities. For years she blessed others with her uplifting column, “Smile Awhile”, in the Laketown church newsletter.

Ione worked in the healthcare industry as an RN for 44 years, serving at St. Croix and Grantsburg, Wisconsin; Ft. Collins, Colorado; and Sandstone, Minnesota, hospitals. As a nurse, Ione impacted thousands of lives for good. Her hands experienced the healing of many and the saving of life itself. Her hands have held the newborn at its first breath and the dying as they breathed their last. They have held the hopeless and frightened as she prayed for the true healer’s intervention.

Ione’s eyes displayed the love of Christ. They saw through the grumpy exterior of a hurting soul to reach out to them. Her eyes flowed with compassion as she cried with the hurting. As her mind slowly began to leave us, the little girl within would still peek out now and then with her playful ways, still seeing the silly side of life, and her eyes would smile.

Her lips have the very ear of God himself. They spoke kindness where some of us may not. Her words would inspire the complacent, guide the lost, challenge the proud and comfort the hurting. From her lips flowed the words of encouragement to the struggling child, wisdom to the unruly teen and hope to the dying elderly. She was an example to follow.

Ione was active in her church and Bible studies, and she lived out her faith in her day to day life. She put her faith and trust in Christ alone for her salvation, and we can all stand assured that she is now in total peace with her heavenly Father in a place too wonderful for words to describe.

Ione was preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter Salina Muehlhauser.

She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Bruce; children Ryan (Martha), Brett (Sara), Todd (Diane), and Dana (Heather); 14 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; and siblings Willis (Mary) Christenson, Fern Darmody, and Maurice, Shirley, and Rose Christenson.

A private family memorial service will be held at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Online condolences can be made at www.swedberg-taylor.com.
Cards may be sent to the family at: Bruce Muehlhauser, C/O Dana Muehlhauser, 31780 Rendova St. NE, Cambridge, MN 55008.