Sarah Jane (Simmons) Sauer

Sarah Jane Sauer, 90, passed away at 11:20 p.m. Tuesday, October 2, 2018, surrounded by family at her home in Hannibal.

All are invited to a gathering and celebration of her life with family at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 7, at First Presbyterian Church.  A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m., also at First Presbyterian Church.  Matt Ver Meer, CLP, will officiate.

Smith Funeral Home and Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Sarah Jane was born in Hannibal, Mo., on January 25, 1928, to Fred W. and Virginia H. (Barrett) Simmons.

Sarah Jane graduated from Hannibal High School in 1945, and then received an Associate of Arts degree from Hannibal-LaGrange College.  It was then that she began working as the secretary in the University of Missouri Athletic Department.

She married her high school sweetheart, Martin John Sauer, on August 15, 1948 in Hannibal.

Upon Martin’s graduation from Mizzou in 1950, they returned to Hannibal to embark on their career in the hardware business.  She worked as an employee of Haydon Hardware before joining Martin and her son, Dirk, to open Martin’s True Value on McMasters Avenue in 1975.  Together, they owned and operated their family business for 36 years.

Sarah Jane passionately loved her Lord, and as a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Hannibal, she devoted her life to serving and providing for others – especially her family.

Her beloved Martin preceded her in death on May 31, 2013.  Throughout their 64 years of marriage, they were inseparable.  Side by side, they enjoyed Mizzou football games, any activity in which their children and grandchildren participated, and finding any reason to host family gatherings at their home.  Now reunited, they can be satisfied that they instilled a strong family tradition of love, respect, and kinship that will last for generations.

Sarah Jane is survived by her four children, Dirk (Karen) Sauer of Hannibal, Peachie (Bob) Hevel of Columbia, Sarah Lea (Mike) Morehead of Columbia, and Karen (Jim) Nemes of Hannibal; her 10 grandchildren, Chris (Carissa) Sauer, Megan (Ben) Stutler, John (Whitney) Sauer, Marcy (Jon) Burns, Katie Sauer, Jamie Nemes, Leah (Taylor) Sirois, Barrett Morehead, Mark Nemes, and Addy Nemes; and her seven great-grandchildren, Braden and Blake Sauer, Caden and Rilynn Burns, Kale Stutler, Clara Sauer, and Jayna Sirois.  Also surviving is a sister, Jeannie Allison Price of Bettendorf, Ia., seven nieces and one nephew.

The family also wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude and thanks to her wonderful team of caregivers:  Heidi, Kim, Mandy, Lynne, Debbie, and Kelly, as well as Tonya and Mark and the team from Community Loving Care Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Simmons Youth Center of First Presbyterian Church or Hospice Promise Foundation, in care of the Smith Funeral Home & Chapel.

Online condolences to the family may be offered at www.smithfuneralhomeandchapel.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sarah Jane (Simmons) Sauer, please visit our floral store.