Jon Muller

Jon Muller, aged 83, passed away peacefully in hospice care on May 24, 2025.

Jon grew up in Salina, Kansas, the son of a painter and a registered nurse. From an early age, he knew he wanted to be an archaeologist and went on to earn his doctorate in archaeology from Harvard University, specializing in Mississippian culture. He moved to Carbondale in the 1960s to teach at Southern Illinois University, where he remained until his retirement in 2005. It was there that he met his late wife, Jean Stephens, who became the center of his world and stayed with him, in spirit, until the very end.

An avid reader, stamp collector, and photography enthusiast, Jon was a man of boundless knowledge and wide-ranging intellectual interests. As a young man, he traveled throughout Europe, Africa, and South America. He loved to share stories of his travels almost as much as he enjoyed discussing history or debating politics. A spirited and thoughtful individual, Jon’s presence will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched.

Jon is survived by his daughter, Khai Muller; his brothers-in-law and sister-in-law; and his nephew and niece.

Final Arrangements were Lovingly Entrusted to Southern Cremation and Burial Services of Murphysboro, Illinois.