George Henry Sauer

George Henry Sauer lived a long and full life. He took pride in his many life experiences, found the greatest joy in his family and he shared 66 years of happiness with the love of his life, Jo. George Henry Sauer was born on January 10, 1922 in Briggsdale, Colorado to Alex and Katy (Kissler) Sauer. He was the second of six boys. He successfully completed 12 years of schooling in Ault, Colorado. During the later years of his education he enjoyed spending time in the gymnasium playing basketball. Shortly after graduating George and a few of his buddies traveled to California to earn a living picking fruit. During the military draft he returned home to Colorado and on January 19, 1943 he enlisted in the United States Navy. He served during World War II as an Aviation Machinist Mate (Flight Engineer) and was awarded the American Area Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was Honorably Discharged on April 5, 1946. After his discharge he returned to Greeley, Colorado and began doing custom work for local farmers. In July of 1948 he was hired by a farmer in Wiggins, Colorado to custom harvest a wheat crop and he fell in love with the farmers' daughter, Goldie Josephine Neal. They dated through the summer and were married on November 7, 1948. On October 25, 1949 they were blessed with their first son, Edward Eugene. To provide for their newly expanded family George bought a hay baler and rented a tractor to continue his custom farm work. Josie ran the tractor and he rode on the baler behind. On October, 21, 1952 their family grew with the arrival of their second son Jerry Lee. The family became complete on June 26, 1959 when their youngest son, Robert John, made his appearance. They lived and farmed in Wiggins until 1964. They moved to and farmed in Byers from 1965-1966, in the Hoyt area from 1967-1971 and Leader from 1971-1984. They all contributed to the family farm growing sugar beets, corn and wheat. Raising his three sons on the farm gave him opportunity to teach them work ethic, discipline and the unconditional love of a father. George was a very progressive farmer. He was among the first to use a mechanical beet thinner and to use both pre and post emergent chemicals on sugar beets. He was given a High Ten Growers award in 1981 and he was a member of The 10, 000 Pound Club by virtue of the fact that a beet contract of his produced 10, 000 pounds or more of sugar per acre. He attended the banquet with his family and received an award and engraved silver set. In 1984 George sold the farm and ""retired"" to reside in the town of Byers. He kept himself busy driving a truck for Leprino Foods and hauling gravel for his friends, Tink Rector and Wayne Pipkin. He eventually ""officially"" retired to garden cucumbers and tomatoes, mow the lawn, perfect his automatic sprinkler system and do various home improvement projects. He also anxiously awaited the first part of August to join the entire family at the annual family picnic. He and Jo would leave early to be the first to the park and after a full day of conversation and delicious dishes they would be one of the last to leave. When George wasn't working around the house you could find him and Josie loaded in their motor home, pulling his fishing boat, headed to Williams Fork, Colorado. He spent many summers enjoying the mountains, camping and fishing with his family. The mountains were a great place to teach some of his most valuable lessons to his many grandchildren. The appropriate noise level for fishing on his boat-close to none, how to bait a hook-the fresher the worm the better, how to clean your catch-the scraps always went to the waiting seagulls, how to fillet your fish for supper and the proper way to toast a marshmallow for s'mores around the campfire-never in the direct flame, always in the heat of the deep purple and blue coals. Finally and possibly the most important lesson was breakfast at the picnic table outside the motor home in the crisp mountain air is the most important meal of the day, especially when grandmas biscuits and egg gravy were on the menu. George Henry Sauer was a loving husband to Goldie Josephine (Neal)Sauer. He was father to Ed (Rhonda), Jerry(Donna) and Bob(Terry). He was grandfather to Brian, Lisa(Todd), Jennifer(Mike), Candace(Brad), Jason, Alex, Amanda(Drew), Justin(Sara), Joshua, Curtis(Apryl), Leslie(Phil) and Rachel(Ryan) and 24 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alex and Katy Sauer, his brothers, Bill, Harold and John, his son Edward Eugene and his great-grandchildren, Tanner Lee Issac Sauer and Michael Duane Borders, Jr. He is survived by his wife Goldie, his sons Jerry and Bob, his 12 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He taught endless lessons, gave countless words of wisdom and instilled the greatest of values in all of his family members. He will be missed dearly. Anyone who knew him knew his work ethic, selflessness and love for all of his family. Albert Einstein once said ""Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation, for they are us"". Let us celebrate and honor George's life and continue his legacy. Thank you Dad/Grandpa