For John W. Muster IV, caring for others wasn’t just a profession — it was a calling passed down through generations. The longtime McLean County funeral director and community figure died Wednesday at age 78, leaving behind a legacy rooted in faith, family, and quiet service.
“Dad always said it wasn’t really yours,” said his son Will. “You’re just taking care of it while it’s your turn.”
Muster was the fifth generation to run Muster Funeral Homes, which was officially founded in 1855 but traces its spirit of service even further. Family records note that an ancestor, John Muster, was named among two good Samaritans who helped bury the dead during the 1822 cholera outbreak in Louisville.
The funeral home has remained in family hands ever since, making it one of the oldest continuously owned funeral homes in Kentucky. John grew up in the building, living in the upstairs quarters and attending every funeral from a young age.
“He probably started helping with funerals when he was just a kid,” Will said. “And he stayed with it for nearly 70 years.”
Born March 2, 1947, John graduated from the former Calhoun High School in 1965 before earning a degree in funeral service from Central State College in Oklahoma. That’s where he met his wife of 56 years, Susan Bondurant. They married in 1969, the same year he returned home to join the family business full-time.
He earned his funeral director and embalmer licenses in 1971 and was later honored for 50 years of service in the industry. Until his retirement earlier this year, John still worked most days at the funeral home and remained a familiar, comforting presence to the families he served.
“We’ve buried six or seven generations of the same families,” Will said. “He taught us that no matter who you’re serving, you treat everyone the same.”
His work wasn’t limited to funeral service. John served more than five decades as McLean County’s coroner or deputy coroner, making him one of the longest-serving coroners in Kentucky. He was also a licensed EMT and worked alongside his family when they operated the local ambulance service.
In 1976, he co-founded Muster Coaches, a professional vehicle business specializing in ambulances and funeral cars. He loved connecting with other funeral professionals across the country — swapping stories, learning about their traditions, and solving problems together.
“When he sold hearses or limos, it wasn’t just about the vehicles,” Will said. “It was about talking to other family funeral homes and sharing in that experience.”
He brought that same personal touch to his popular “Run for the Roses” sales campaign, which rewarded one lucky customer each year with a trip to the Kentucky Derby, often complete with Kentucky Colonel honors. His wife Susan was by his side for each one.
“He always loved giving people a taste of Kentucky,” Will said.
Outside of work, John was an outdoorsman who found joy in time spent on the Green River, quail hunting with his father and sons, and ski trips out west. His grandkids, JW and Maddie Grace, brought new meaning to his life in later years. Will said John never missed one of JW’s football games and loved celebrating Maddie’s accomplishments, big or small.
“He had a lot of titles over the years, but I think ‘Pop’ and ‘Poppa John’ were his favorites,” Will said.
Though his presence loomed large in the funeral home, John never sought the spotlight. He was a deacon and trustee at Calhoun Baptist Church and a member of Vienna Lodge #423 F. & A.M. His greatest pride came from seeing his family carry on the work he’d devoted his life to.
“We’ve had ministers who’ve done funerals with five generations of Musters — from my great-grandmother all the way down to my son,” Will said. “That kind of continuity, that’s what mattered to him.”
Lee, John’s other son, said there was never one big lesson. It was everything.
“Everything we do — how we work, how we treat people — he taught us that,” Lee said. “And we’ll keep doing it the way he showed us.”
Muster is survived by his wife Susan; sons John W. “Will” Muster V (Adrianna) and Lee Miles Muster (Elizabeth); grandchildren John W. “JW” Muster VI and Madeline Grace “Maddie” Muster; brother, Michael Gibson Muster (DeeAnn); and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.
A memorial service will be held at Muster Funeral Homes in Calhoun — the place where his story began, and where his legacy of compassion and care will continue.
