Peyton Albert Muehlmeier

Peyton A. Muehlmeier, born on June 10th, 1927, died peacefully at 91 on January 12th, 2019.  He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Ruth E. Muehlmeier, and their four children: Christine L. Style, Pamela J. Doucette (Steve), Peyton S. Muehlmeier (Jill) and Daniel S. Muehlmeier.  Proud grandfather to nine unique and strong individuals: Sarah Davitt, Victoria Maher (Jack), Cody Doucette (Katie), Kitt Doucette (Jackie), Cassidy Doucette Campanella (Mike), Courtney Muehlmeier (Elizabeth), Lyndsey Glasener (Jeff), Christina Weir (Joe), Cory Muehlmeier and four great grandchildren: Will Glasener, Seanna Glasener, Lauren Muehlmeier, and Savannah Muehlmeier.  Peyt’s parents were Ewald and Louise (Style) Muehlmeier who lived in Wauwatosa, WI.

Peyt attended St. John’s Military Academy in Delafield and as a very young man he joined the Navy during WWII.  Peyt’s brother Courtenay S. Muehlmeier was already fighting in the Pacific, and later died on Iwo Jima.  Peyt was stationed on Midway Island until his brother’s death, wherein as the sole surviving son, he was brought back home and he graduated from St. John’s Military Academy. He then attended the Colorado School of Mines.  While in Colorado he mined for gold and honed his love of skiing. Peyt married Ruth and they started their family. He first became a builder through his partnership with Jim Hummert, where they constructed many homes in the Brookfield and Elm Grove areas.  Peyt and his partners pioneered new lodging designs with the iconic glass domed tropical atriums and the founding of the full-service Midway Motor Lodges that spread throughout the Midwest. 

Their lifestyle was a balance of working hard and playing hard. Smiling and laughing the whole year through. He made sure all his children and grandchildren got amazing educations and wanted for nothing but made sure they were all doing something. Peyt loved working with his hands, building things, whether it was woodsheds, houses, large scale hotels, tree forts or dollhouses, the man could build anything! 

Peyt lived life long, lived strong, lived with love, adventure, and passion.  He was a self-made entrepreneur of his generation, employing thousands of people throughout the Midwest.  Peyt was always up for a competitive game, no matter the genre or the challenge. He loved to win in golf, tennis, backgammon, gin, cribbage, and any other game you cared to play!   Peyt was especially ready and willing to teach his entire family how to play, and maybe, just maybe, place a bet along the way.

The family moved from Brookfield to the Lake Country and into their beloved Wildwood on Upper Nemahbin Lake in the early 1970’s.  The entire family enjoyed Wildwood for over 40 years.

Peyt lived with integrity and strength till the end and will be missed by all who knew him. We his family, will strive to continue to live and honor his spirit of adventure and sense of life. We will keep his passion and love within us.

A memorial service for Peyton A. Muehlmeier will be Saturday, February 2, at Blue Mound Country Club, 10122 West North Avenue, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Visitation is from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Service 11:00 a.m. followed by a Reception.  More information maybe be found on the Becker-Ritter website: https://www.beckerritter.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Peyton A. Muehlmeier to: Make a Wish Wisconsin, 11020 West Plank Court, Suite 200, Wauwatosa, WI  53226 (http://wisconsin.wish.org/ ) and/or Fisher House Wisconsin, 5000 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53295-0001 (https://www.fisherhousewi.org/)

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Peyton Albert Muehlmeier, please visit our floral store.