More than a decade ago, Lori Mueller, of Eland, was nominated for and selected as a finalist for the Green Bay Packers Fan Hall of Fame.
She didn’t make the final cut that year, but she’s back for the latest round of voting.
Mueller, a fourth grade teacher at Bowler Elementary School, was nominated by her sister, Jennifer Postler, who described Mueller as the most involved Packers fan she has ever known.
“She has taught a summer school class for elementary students called ‘Packermania’ for several years,” Poster wrote in her nomination letter. “She thinks one key part of being a Packers fan is growing more Packer fans, so the legacy and history of the Packers will continue to thrive and flourish.”
Her summer school class culminates in “The Packer Wax Museum,” where students research, write a speech in the first person and stand in “costume” for their chosen Packers subject in front of a backdrop they created, and “come to life” when a visitor approaches them and gives their speech.
Mueller said she’s always been a Packers fan, and her earliest memories are of her and her siblings watching their parents cheer on the team.
“We would hide behind the couch and watch them scream and jump up and down,” Mueller said. “My mom was more boisterous than my dad.”
It was almost a year ago that her mother died.
“I can feel her with me,” Mueller said.
Some years back, the “Inside Lambeau” show featured her class, and it was broadcast on statewide TV. Mary Jane Sorgel, the Packers’ original Golden Girl, was a guest in that broadcast.
“She helped successfully campaign for Jerry Kramer’s induction to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame, with petitions, T-shirts, producing a video, and many of her students wrote the Pro Football Hall Of Fame advocating for Mr. Kramer’s induction,” Postler said. “Her students sang a Hall Of Fame song for Jerry in the video, and they even had a chance to sing it to him in person at Lambeau Field on Draft Day.”
Mueller has promoted Kramer’s book, “Run To Win: My Packers Life From Lombardi To Canton,” and his favorite causes, such as the Boys and Girls Club of Sturgeon Bay, veterans programs and the National Child ID Program of which 975,000 identification kits were sent out across Wisconsin.
Mueller first connected with the Kramer family in 2011. They became Facebook friends, and when she learned she was finalist this year, she called Kramer to share the news.
“I thought he should have been in the Hall of Fame years ago,” Mueller said. “I’m the kind of person who, when they see something wrong, I’ll do what I can to fix it.”
As a teacher, Mueller has been awarded multiple state and national honors, including a Kohl Fellowship.
With the monetary prize that goes with the Kohl Fellowship, she brought former Packers kicker Chester Marcol into her classroom to talk about his playing days but also practice, determination, perseverance and other character-building attributes.
She spoke with Marcol afterwards. He decided write a book, “Alive and Kicking: My Journey Through Football, Addiction, and Life.”
Mueller put him in contact with Gary D’Amato, who had written an article featuring Marcol, and they worked together to author the book. She and her school are mentioned in the introduction.
Mueller is such a Packers fan, she’s even a pre-Packers fan.
The Walk of Legends is a public art walkway east of Lambeau Field that features 24 statues honoring the legends and legendary eras in the history of Green Bay football. Each statue also has information on the history of the Oneida Nation, which sponsors the statues.
“I’d like to spend some time researching football in Green Bay before the Packers,” she said.
Mueller also has several unique pieces of Packers memorabilia.
“She is very proud caretaker of her Packers collection,” Postler said. “She is honored to have donated some of these pieces for various charitable causes. She loves to donate Packer game tickets to those who might otherwise not be able to attend a Packer game.”
For several years, Mueller has helped her students participate in a reading incentive program, Tundra Tales, through the Packers.
In the past, Mueller has nominated other fans to the Packers Fan Hall Of Fame, one of them being John Breske of Elderon, who was named the 25th member Fan Hall of Fame last year.
The first professional football team to have a hall of fame, the Green Bay Packers enhanced that distinction in 1998 by establishing a Packers Fan Hall of Fame. It was founded for the purpose of annually honoring a devout and longtime Packers fan.
Packers fans were asked to nominate themselves or a friend for the honor with an essay of 500 words or fewer, accompanied by a photo, explaining why he or she should be recognized. From those nominations, 10 finalists were selected.
Other finalists this year are Nancy Beaulieu of Manitowoc; Dan Bogenschuetz of Sheboygan; Kris Burich of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Larry Kittoe of Ashwaubenon; Angela Kuemmel of Cleveland, Ohio; Jeff Padon of Severn, Maryland; Bruce Roehsner of Menomonee Falls; Terry Sportsman of Elgin, Illinois; and Ken Stofen of Sturgeon Bay.
Fans can read the finalists’ profiles and vote online by visiting packers.com/fhof. The winner will be selected by Packers fans and the Packers’ selection committee.
The voting deadline is 11:59 p.m. Jan. 31. Voters will be entered into a random drawing to win Packers merchandise.
The honoree’s selection will be announced in late February. He or she will receive four club seats to a 2024 Packers home game, along with four pre-game sideline passes, four passes to the Packers Hall of Fame, custom Packers jersey, a $500 Packers Pro Shop gift certificate and a one-year subscription to PackersNews.com.
The honoree also will have his or her name added to the list of Fan Hall of Fame honorees recognized in the Packers Hall of Fame.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
Eland woman finalist for Packers Fan Hall of Fame
