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John (Jack) William Sauer III, 73, passed away on December 2, 2023, surrounded by his family after a 7 month battle with Glioblastoma (brain cancer).
John was born January 5, 1950, to John and Velma Sauer (Wildes) in Waterloo, Iowa. John lived in both Waterloo and in Des Moines throughout his childhood. John was a graduate of Dowling Catholic in Des Moines, IA as the class of 1968 and joined the US Army in 1973. John served his country in the 1st Signal Battalion and following an honorable discharge he moved to New Mexico where he met his wife, Mamie Rios. John and Mamie were joined in marriage July 5, 1978, and they had two children, Jacqueline and Kathryn.
John worked as a tower technician/installer for AT&T for 20 years before his retirement in 1992, working throughout much of the United States including in New York, New Mexico, and Oregon. John retired from AT&T and moved with his family from Hillsboro (Portland) Oregon back to Iowa. Many who knew John knew that he did not like to sit still very often, and he was often found picking up his daughter, Kathryn and taking her where she needed to go and would work as a softball umpire in the Des Moines metro area. John enjoyed his time as an umpire and the people he got to know through that time. He was the first one who would help a new umpire and would give them extra equipment that he had or he would offer advice to the newcomers.
What John was most known for his was his love for his family and for children. When there was something that was needed at church (Shepherd of the Valley – West Des Moines), at school, or anything for the kids, he was the first in line to do what he could to help. His family, however, was his life. John was a dedicated husband and family man - his family was everything to him. He was very proud of his two daughters, Jaqueline and Kathryn, and his grandson, Johnny, was the light of his life. Many times when you would talk to John, he would bring up his namesake, Johnny, and tell everyone what he was up to and what was going on. Growing up, he would often be the one to take Johnny to preschool and would pick Johnny and his friends up from school making sure to stop by Casey’s for some pizza on the way home. He never missed an activity that Johnny was in from concerts to sporting events; he was always in the stands to show his support for Johnny. During the summer you would find the two out and about doing things like going to Big Creek with his dog, Mindy, going out to eat, or planning the next family vacation.
John loved to travel and made sure that his girls visited all states West of the Mississippi River before they were 18. Annual family vacations were important to him and it was important to spend that time making memories with his family regardless of where they went. John took his family to Disney World, New Orleans, Las Vegas, and recently would make sure Johnny had those same family memories by going to Kansas City, Wisconsin Dells, Washington D.C., Virginia Beach, and Kentucky, and of course would go back to visit family and friends in New Mexico.
John will be greatly missed by his wife, Mamie; daughter, Jackie (Bruce Hower); grandson, Johnny Anderson; siblings, Ron Sauer, Terry (Marsha) Sauer, and Kitty (Tony) Cirks; and many other nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Velma Sauer; his daughter, Kathryn; and his best friend of many years, Tom Gannon.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 8, 2023 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines, 50309. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 9, 2023, at Shepherd of the Valley, 3900 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, IA 50265.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family to be distributed to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Dream Foundation.
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