Martin John Sauer

Martin John Sauer, 85, died at 11:03 a.m. Friday, May 31, 2013, at Hannibal Regional Hospital. A Celebration Of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 4,2013. at Clover Road Christian Church. The Rev. Dr. Stephen Adkison, Rev. Tim Goodman, and Rev. Douglas Darnold will officiate. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon, Tuesday, June 4, also at Clover Road Christian Church. Private burial will follow at a later date. Smith Funeral Home and Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Martin Sauer was born in Hannibal, Mo., on June 16, 1927, to J.O. and Elsie Sauer. He married his dear wife, Sarah Jane Simmons, on August 15, 1948, and began the family he loved so dearly. In addition to Sarah Jane, Martin is survived by his sister, Ruth Wagner of Hannibal; his four children: Dirk (Karen) Sauer of Hannibal, Peachie (Bob) Hevel of Branson, Sarah Lea (Mike) Morehead of Kirksville, and Karen (Jim) Nemes of Hannibal; his ten grandchildren: Chris (Carissa) Sauer, Megan (Ben) Stutler, John Sauer, Marcy (Jon) Burns, Katie Sauer, Jamie Nemes, Leah Morehead, Barrett Morehead, Mark Nemes, and Addy Nemes; and his five great-grandchildren: Braden and Blake Sauer, Caden and Rilynn Burns, and Kale Stutler. Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Jeannie Allison Price of Baton Rouge, La. Martin graduated from Hannibal High School in 1945, and was forever a Pirate fan from that point forward. He spent 1945-46 in the Navy during World War II before heading to the University of Missouri, where he graduated with a business degree in 1950. While at Mizzou, Martin played football under Coach Don Faurot, earning a letter each year in 1947-48-49. He loved being a Tiger, and highlights of his career included playing in the 1949 and 1950 Gator Bowls, visiting the Trumans at the White House in 1949, and being a part of the first Tiger team to travel on an airplane. In 1951, Martin joined in partnership with Percy Haydon and Don Wagner to operate Haydon Hardware in downtown Hannibal before joining Sarah Jane and son, Dirk, to open Martin's True Value on McMasters Avenue in 1975. They operated their family business for 36 years, closing on Oct. 30, 2011. Martin enjoyed being an active member of the community. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he joined in 1936, serving as a trustee and elder for many years. He showed his dedication to Pirate athletics by becoming a charter member of the HHS Athletic Booster Club, also serving as its president in 1955 and treasurer from 1957-2006. Over the years, he also served on the Boards of Education, YMCA and Hannibal Mutual Savings and Loan. More recently, Martin participated in the Great River Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in September of 2010, which he greatly enjoyed, with his son, Dirk. Martin loved sports of all kinds, but particularly the Cardinals and his Mizzou Tigers. He was incredibly devoted to his entire family and all their activities, worked tirelessly in his yard, and loved his Lord with a passion. Memorials can be made to the First Presbyterian Church Building Fund, Great River Honor Flight or charity or organization of the donorâa