John Sauer

John V. Sauer, age 58, of Grove City, MN, died on Saturday, April 4, 2009 in Grove City, MN. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, April 9, 2009 at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home, Litchfield, MN with Pastor Orval Wirkkala officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior the service at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home, Litchfield, MN. Interment will be Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX. Military Honors will be provided by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. John Virgil Sauer, the son of Virgil and Phyllis (Milton) Sauer, was born on July 20, 1950 in Huron, South Dakota. He grew up in Howard, South Dakota and moved to Crystal, MN when he was 7 years old. His later family moved to Golden Valley, MN where he attended high school, graduating in 1968. John enlisted in the military and served in the US Army. After being discharged from the Army in 1974, he attended the University of MN School of Fine Arts. He moved to Minneapolis, MN where he was a carpenter and a journeyman cabinetmaker. He later moved to Grove City, MN. He was a member of the American Legion. John’s love through all his life was art and he was talented both mechanically and musically. He enjoyed listening to music and playing the harmonica and mandolin. He also enjoyed photography, painting with oil and water, pottery, metal casting, gardening, canning, swimming, canoeing, and watching birds. John is survived by his siblings Kathleen (and Ted) Gwillim of San Antonio, TX, Robert Sauer of Bemidji, MN and Colleen Johnson of Corcoran, MN; an uncle Chris (and Char) Christensen of Iowa; aunts Goldie, Marie and Florence; nieces and nephews Molly, Teddy (and Jill), Emily, Allison, Karl, Shelby and Austin; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Virgil and Phyllis; a brother James; a brother-in-law Mike and sister-in-law Sherri.