I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES

Sam died peacefully, surrounded by family at the age of 91.  He was born in Cleveland, OH, to Bea and Conrad Muhling, and had the privilege of becoming Norman's older brother seven years later.  They were raised in a home that Conrad built in Huntington Woods, Michigan.

Sam was always fascinated by electronics.  When still young, he built a number of gadgets including a powerful cabinet speaker, which, unfortunately for his mom, required "frequent testing." He attended Henry Ford Trade School and Lawrence Institute of Technology.

Conrad died at age 45 when Sam was 19 and Norman was 12. Sam worked hard to maintain his full-time college work while also working full-time to help support his mom and little brother. When he and Phyllis were married, she saw that he needed to learn to "play" again.  This led to his learning to fly, and they flew together in a tiny propeller-driven plane to Canada, the Bahamas, and many other places. This sparked the "Sam and the Need for Speed" persona, as evidenced by many friends' stories about terrifying flights, boat rides, and car trips, also affirmed by his nickname, Roadrunner, earned on the ski slopes.

Sam loved people and enjoyed using his mechanical engineering degree in manufacturing sales positions over his very long career. Hospitality was always a key focus for Sam and Phyllis. She'd invite countless people over and he'd say, "It's not a holiday if the house isn't full."  He had an entrepreneurial spirit, which led him down many paths, even into later years. He helped Phyl open a Toning Salon in her 60s; they both earned their investment licenses in their 70s; he cheered her on when she traveled to Taiwan as accompanist for an international chorus when she was 80, and when he was 80, she cheered him on when he water skied. He never stopped delighting his family with his adventures (and misadventures).

When Phyllis began to physically decline, he cared for her to within an inch of his own life until he was 90, God's "yes" to his lifelong prayer to have that privilege, never wanting her to experience what his own mother had by losing her husband at a young age.

Over all things, Sam was a God-loving, Jesus-desiring, Holy-Spirit-changed man who was characterized by his determination to keep growing and deepening his relationship with God. When cheated and defrauded in business, he chose not to sue, preferring to pray for the offenders; he started over, trusting his Lord to make a way.

Sam daily thanked God for his salvation through Jesus and prayed for each family member by name. He faithfully read scripture and prayed with Phyllis until their last day together; even in his last days, he prayed for each person he interacted with, that they might come to to share his profound confidence in Jesus.

Sam is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Phyllis; his brother, Norm; sister-in-law, Sharon; niece Sherri; and his son-in-law Jeff. He has left behind four children: Lori (Jeff) McKearney, Karen (Doug) Curzon, Kent (Yuko) Muhling, and Allene Slagle; also 11 grandkids and 15 great-grandkids - with another 5 great-grands expected by the end of August!

Visitation • 10:00am - 11:00am on Saturday, March 22, 2025

Memorial Service • 11:00am on Saturday, March 22, 2025

The Village Church of Bartlett

601 W Bartlett Rd, Bartlett, IL

A live stream of the service is available here.