Arthur Kenneth Muselman

ARTHUR KENNETH MUSELMAN, 77, leading citizen of Berne, died Thursday evening, Aug. 30, 2007, in a tragic automobile accident near his home.

Art, a lifelong resident of Berne, was born on Feb. 1, 1930, to Christian and Edna (Sprunger) Muselman; both deceased.

He and his wife, Gloria, were charter members of Peace Lutheran Church, where each held numerous offices and positions of leadership.

They believed and invested in the mission of Swiss Village Retirement Community. Art served on the board of directors for many years.

The Muselman's prized Taylor University, a Christian Liberal Arts college in Upland, Ind. They served on the Parent's Cabinet in the 1980's, and were named "Parents of the Year" in 1987. Art was named trustee emeritus after completing 20 years on its Board of Trustees.

Since 1958, Art was an active member and past president of the Berne Rotary Club.

An avid and accomplished golfer, he served on the board of the Wabash Valley Golf Club. He was also on the boards of First State Bank of Decatur, Concordia Theological Seminary, and the Christian radio station WBCL.

He attended Taylor University, and graduated from Indiana University in 1952, with a bachelor's degree in business.

He was a director emeritus for Dynamic Resource Group, the management company that oversees the publishing and fulfillment companies owned by the Muselman family.

He began working at Economy Printing Concern, the family printing company, during his college years, then joined the business full time in 1952. His father, who came to the United States from Germany in 1910, founded the printing company in 1925.

In 1959, Carl and Art purchased the business from their father, where Art served there until his retirement in the mid 1990's. The brothers oversaw the printing company, now called EP Graphics, for 40 years. As the printing business continued to grow, the Muselman's expanded into other areas, such as the sale of wholesale records, and the operation of a travel business. They also purchased Smith Brothers Furniture, a highly successful manufacturer of upholstered furniture.

In 1976, the Muselman brothers purchased The Berne Tri-Weekly News, the only community newspaper in Indiana that is published three times a week. In 1985, Carl and Art purchased a publishing company in New Hampshire, House of White Birches, and moved the operation to Berne. The purchase of House of White Birches was followed by the acquisitions of The Needlecraft Shop in 1994, and Annie's Attic in 1996, both Texas-based craft magazine and catalog publishers. After the purchase of Annie's Attic, the Muselman's formed a fulfillment company, Strategic Fulfillment Group, located in Big Sandy, Texas.

In July 1998, Carl and Art were honored as finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Ernst & Young presents its annual Entrepreneur of the Year Award to the most successful and innovative entrepreneurial business leaders in more than 125 cities, in 40 countries around the world. Nominations were reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges, and the finalists and award recipients were honored at a reception at the Century Center in South Bend, Ind.

In 2002, the Muselman's expanded their company with the acquisitions of Clotilde's Sewing Notions, a cataloger in the retail needlecraft industry, and American School of Needlework, a leading publisher of needlecraft books and patterns, based in southern California.

After retiring from EP Graphics, Art and his wife enjoyed spending the winter months in Greenlefe, Fla. They were associate members of Grace Lutheran Church in Winter Haven, Fla. Beyond all accomplishments and service, their greatest joys were being devoted parents and grandparents.

They are survived by their son, Roger (Naomi) Muselman and grandchildren, Sarah Elaine, Mark Arthur and David James, all of Berne; and daughter, Karen (Rev. David) Thomas and grandchildren, Luke Christian, John Paul and Mary Esther Elaine, all of Lexington, Ky.; sister, Ruth (Clinton) Steury of Fort Wayne; sister-in-law, Marilyn Muselman of Berne; Gloria's brother, Roger (Fay) Koeneman of Decatur; and nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Carl H. Muselman; two sisters, Carolyn Russett, and Pauline Muselman.

Funeral service is 3 p.m. Monday at First Mennonite Church in Berne, with visitation from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at the church. Dr. Jay Kesler officiating. Calling also from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne. Burial in MRE Cemetery, Berne.

Preferred memorials to Swiss Village Retirement Community and Taylor University.

For complete information, please access, DRGnetwork.com or yagerkirchhofer.com.