Gerald Sauer

Gerald Fred Sauer, age 76, was born June 5, 1938 in Longview, WA to John Peter Sauer and Francis Dora (Tarp) Sauer. They set up housekeeping in Kalama, WA, where two sons, John L. and Gerald F., and a baby daughter Lorraine K. were born. After the death of his mother and baby sister in 1940, Gerald, his father, and older brother moved to Toppenish, WA. In 1945, Gerald's father married Genevieve Eva Marcox and another brother, Michael J., was born. Gerald attended Wapato Grade School and graduated from Toppenish High School in 1956. During high school he bought his first earth moving machine to develop the farmland he farmed with his dad and brother. They raised cattle, corn, and grain. Gerald joined the U.S. National Guard Reserve at Toppenish from 1958-1964. He cut soldiers' and officers' hair for spending money, also continuing to farm with his dad, while saving his military paychecks for pursuits of self-employment and obtaining more earth moving and harvesting equipment. After his honorable discharge, he continued farming with his dad and started to take on custom land leveling and harvesting jobs. As the economy changed, Gerald varied his independent contracting business from earth moving to construction site preparation and demolition to dairy farm pond construction. For more than 20 seasons, Gerald and his family crew machine-harvested concord juice grapes and wine grapes throughout the Yakima Valley. Gerald valued his family. He worked with his brothers, wife, daughters, nephews, nieces, and his dad on many jobs and projects. Gerald also enjoyed collecting old vehicles and parts, scouring around swap meets, and flea markets with anyone would would go with him. Gerald always had an eye for the “good stuff.” He really enjoyed collecting. As a matter of fact, he would always find something “neat” to use, or redesign and rebuild, to be more useful. Gerald taught his grandchildren to recognize CAT yellow, army OD green, JD green, and antiques at swap meets and flea markets. Over the years, Gerald and his family traveled across the country. They loved all the history and other points of interest he researched and took them to; there was always a surprise destination. He and Helen even traveled as far as Alaska in 2004, always hoping to return someday. Other outings included fishing and camping. Owning his own historical mountain park was special to Gerald, although he never got to use it often enough. Gerald was quite the fisherman, traveled all over the state for fish. Gerald won the biggest fish derby one year at Illwaco. He even took a boat and his gear to Alaska to fish and ate fresh fish there. Gerald was a very active Catholic and contributed toward many projects, taught C.C.D. classes, and was a parish council member. In 1968 Gerald married Helen Wellner in St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Toppenish. They were blessed with three daughters. Gerald is survived by his wife of 46 years, Helen, and their three daughters and spouses, Roxanne Brady and Michael (Kelso), Theresa Howard and Kenneth (Kennewick), and Anita Tabayoyon and David (Portland), and grandchildren Gavin Pfuhl, Lucas Pfuhl, step grandchildren Emilee (Brady) Rabago and Andrew Brady, and grandchildren Conner Howard, Logan Howard, Dylan Howard, Callie Tabayoyon, and a newborn Tabayoyon expected in May. Gerald was diagnosed with prostate cancer 17 years ago but it didn't slow him down much. Then Spring 2014 set him back when he was diagnosed with cancer in the liver, and later, cancer in the brain. Even with treatment going on, he still tried to fish some, go to flea markets and go to his shop to dink with parts and vehicle repairs. He had too much to do to sit around. He is also survived by two brothers and their spouses, John L. Sauer and Linda (Toppenish) and Michael J. Sauer and Karen (Wapato) and their children. Sunday and Monday services will be at Resurrection Catholic Church in Zillah. Scripture service will be at 6pm Sunday, March 15 with viewing starting at 5pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be 11am Monday March 16 with a luncheon to follow. In celebration of his life and his love for the outdoors we are calling his funeral a "no suit zone". Instead, we will be wearing plaid, flannel and denim. Graveside services will be on Tuesday, March 17 at 11am at Calvary cemetery in Yakima. Special thanks go to North Star Lodge chemotherapy and radiation doctors, nurses, and staff, Memorial home-hospice nurses, social workers, and caregivers, as well as Cottage in the Meadow nurses and staff. You are all so special. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerald Sauer, please visit our flower store.