DARLENE J. CELAR-MUELLER, age 91, of Neillsville, WI, passed away at Clark County Rehab & Living Center in Owen, WI on Monday, May 29, 2023.  Per Darlene's wishes, no services will be held.  Burial will take place in the family plot in the Neillsville City Cemetery at a later date.

     Darlene Joyce Krejci was born on April 21, 1932 in the Town of York, Clark County, WI, the daughter of Thomas E. and Alice M. (Rhead) Krejci.  She was raised and received her education in the Granton, WI area, graduating from Granton High School in 1950.  After graduation, Darlene was employed as the bookkeeper at the Ford dealership in Greenwood, WI.  She was united in marriage to Frank Celar on October 20, 1951 at the First Congregational Church in Neillsville.  They farmed together in the Town of Hendren, dairying and raising Polled Hereford cattle until Frank's death on January 4, 1994.  After his passing, Darlene enrolled in a tutor training class and became a volunteer tutor for Page Forward Volunteers for Literacy in Clark County, and became their coordinator in 1999.  She later married Hermann Mueller on November 19, 2014 in Greenwood.  He died on February 20, 2023.

     She was a member of Neillsville United Church of Christ and its U.C.C. Cirlce of Friends serving as president, Interfailth Caregivers of Clark County, the Willard Historical Society, the Slovenska Druzba Club in Willard, and the Clark County Historical Society.

     Darlene is survived by her stepson, Thomas (Loreen) Mueller of Holiday Island, AR; her stepdaughter, Lisa Thomas of Elizabeth City NC; step granddaughter, Maggie; step great-granddaughter, Giana; her nephew, Brian (Marge) Winkel of Schofield; several other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands Frank and Hermann; two sisters: Betty (Dave) Winkel and Dorothy Krejci in infancy.

     A very special thank you to Ruth Zwieg for everything she did, and a special thank you to the staff at Clark County Rehab & Living Center for their wonderful care.