Mr. Eugene S Mueller

Eugene S. Mueller, 86, of Somerset NJ passed away at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital on March 15, 2023. He was born on December 8, 1936, in Papa, Hungary to the late Ignac and Maria (nee Toth) Muller. His family moved to Budapest, Hungary where he spent his childhood during the Second World War and later attended technical high school to train as an auto mechanic. Shortly after the November 1956, 19-year-old Eugene fled to Vienna, Austria. In early March 1957, he received a letter from the American Embassy in Vienna to come in for an interview and physical. As a healthy, 20-year-old, with a trade, Eugene was offered and courageously accepted the American invitation to emigrate just two days later to the United States. With only a single suitcase in hand, he arrived March 1957 in NJ to begin his new life as part of the New Brunswick Hungarian-American community. Eugene started at General Motors (GM) Linden Assembly in 1959 where he remained employed for 42 years until his retirement in early 2002 as a quality control inspector. He never missed a day of work in his four plus decade tenure at GM.
On March 15, 1959, Eugene met the love of life, a fellow Hungarian refugee, Marika Ronafalvy. The happy couple were married on May 7, 1960 and spent the next 48 years together till Marika’s early passing in May 2008.
Eugene lived in Somerset since 1960 and was a member of St. Ladislaus Catholic Church in New Brunswick for over 65 years. He was a longtime, active member of the Hungarian American Athletic Club (HAAC) in New Brunswick where he held various volunteer positions including Program Chairman and Second Vice President. Over the years, Eugene and his wife enjoyed many HAAC dinner dances, Christmas parties and New Brunswick Hungarian Days with their many dear friends. Eugene and Marika were also avid world travelers in their retirement. They especially enjoyed the three “Mueller Fest” family vacations with their children and grandchildren.
In later years, Eugene often reflected on all the opportunities America offered him and how grateful he was to live in the United States. He was immensely proud that his three children and eight grandchildren were all college graduates and found professional and personal success postgraduation. Eugene took great pleasure in watching his grandchildren grow and he rarely missed a wrestling match, soccer game, basketball game, volleyball match, or swim meet.
Surviving are his three children: Gene (Heather) Mueller of Charlotte, NC and their two children, Michaela and Kyle; John (Judit) Mueller of North Brunswick, NJ and their three children, Jennifer, John Paul and Matthew; Judy (Rick) Fosko of North Brunswick, NJ and their three daughters, Megan (Rich), Nicole and Melanie; his brother-in-law John (Mary) Ronafalvy; two nephews and a niece.
In addition to his parents and wife Marika, Eugene was preceded in death by his sister Magdus and brother-in-law Steven Balczar; and his in-laws John and Theresa (nee Oesterreicher) Ronafalvy.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm at Gowen Funeral Home, 239 Livingston Ave New Brunswick, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 10:00 am, at Saint Ladislaus Church, 213 Somerset St, New Brunswick, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Eugene to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org
Funeral services entrusted to Gowen Funeral Home, New Brunswick, NJ.