Scott Mueller

Longtime Alaska Bush pilot, Scott Mueller, 58, returned to God’s arms Aug. 30, 2013, after his Piper Super Cub crashed off the Tatitna landing strip southeast of McGrath.

Scott was born Nov. 8 1954, in Sidney, Neb. After spending his childhood in Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska, Scott moved to Anchorage with his parents in 1969. Scott graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1973 and from UAA Aviation Maintenance Technology in 1975.

Scott spent his life mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, hunting and flying throughout Alaska. He could point to any peak or river and tell you its name just by looking at it. Scott’s love for Alaska and its rugged beauty was something he shared with anyone he could, and he frequently gave flight-seeing tours to visiting friends and family.

Scott married Ina Lucas in December of 1978 and they raised three children in Anchorage. Scott loved spending time with his grandchildren and would often tell Ina “I need a Tyrus and Hazel fix, they make life better.”

Scott’s aviation career as an A&P Mechanic included Wien Air Alaska, MarkAir, Alaska Airlines and Reeve Aleutian Airways. In 1999 Scott opened Alaska’s only aviation wheel and brake overhaul facility, Alsco Aviation, and became part owner of the Reeve Air Motive store on Merrill Field. In 2007 Scott changed careers and went to work for Little Red Services on the North Slope. Scott loved working on Alaska’s North Slope and cherished the new friends and memories he had with that experience. In fall of 2010, Scott and Ina fulfilled a life-long dream and moved to Big Lake full-time where Scott continued his love of aviation maintenance doing annual inspections and overhauls.

Surviving are his parents, Don and JoAnne Mueller of Anchorage; wife, Ina Mueller of Big Lake; daughter, Brooke Mueller-Hartman, son-in-law, Craig Hartman and granddaughter, Hazel Hartman of Peter’s Creek; son, Bristol Mueller, daughter-in-law, Tiffany Mauldin-Mueller and grandson, Tyrus Mueller of Palmer; son, Colter Mueller and daughter-in-law, Nicole Jennings-Mueller of Anchorage; sister, Becky Ross and brother-in-law, Gary Ross of Wasilla; niece, Kristin Anderson of Eagle River and nephew, Traeger (TJ) Anderson of Wasilla; brother, Todd Mueller and sister-in-law, Tracey Mueller of Anchorage; as well as many other family and friends both within the state and without.

A memorial service is at 7 p.m., Sept. 12 at Zion Lutheran Church, 2100 Boniface Parkway, in Anchorage. A coffee and dessert reception will follow. A celebration of life is at 4 p.m., Sept. 13 at the Aviation Heritage Museum at Lake Hood in Anchorage.

An informal gathering in Scott’s honor is planned in Big Lake airstrip in the near future.