Calvin Daniel Sauers, 85, of Pinellas Park, entered into the arms of His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 19, 2017. He died peacefully in his home, surrounded by family and friends.
Calvin was born on December 1, 1931 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, son of the late George Sauers and Florence Cox Sauers.
After faithfully serving his country for 20 years, Calvin retired from the United States Navy as a Chief Petty Officer Yeoman in 1969. His military career included stints on the USS Shannon and USS Enterprise. In his last assignment, he worked at the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps office at the University of Rochester.
Shortly after his retirement from the Navy, he worked as a manager for various businesses prior to working for the U.S. Postal Service in Tampa, Florida for 10 years.
Cal enjoyed bowling, playing cards with friends, traveling to Las Vegas, and going on cruises. He was an avid sports fan, especially baseball. He was a huge Tampa Bay Rays fan.
He is preceded in death by the mother of his children, Millie Jean Zobel and his former wife, Carole Lynn Sauers.
He is survived by the love of his life, his devoted wife Joanne Hayes Sauers and their precious dog, Rosie; daughter Shirley Jean Syrdahl and her husband, Aaron Syrdahl of Winter, Wisconsin; son Robert Sauers and his wife, Lili Sauers of Tampa, FL; son David Corbett and his wife, Arlene Corbett of Buffalo, NY; and stepdaughter Lori McBrayer of Venice, California; brother Ronald Sauers and his wife, Sandra Sauers of Seminole, FL; and closest friends, Bob and Ginny Brookhart of Pinellas Park, FL.
Cal adored his 4 surviving grandchildren: Drew Lanclos of Melrose, MA; Jennifer Strazzeri of Greece, NY; Craig Sauers of Detroit, MI; Jonah Sauers of Tampa, FL; and his 2 great-grandchildren: Jonathan and Allison Strazzeri.
His Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, June 25 at 9:30am at the Paradise Island (Clubhouse) Church in the Park in Largo, Florida, where he was a member for 6 years. Pastor Bob Brookhart will officiate.
Internment will be held on Thursday, August 24, 2017, at 12:45 P.M. at Bay Pines National Cemetery. Military rites will be rendered. Pastor Bob Brookhart will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to the National Kidney Foundation, 4304 S. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33611, www.nkfpickup.org.
Special thanks to the caring staffs at Bay Surgical Specialists in St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg Limb and Brace, Signature HealthCare of Pinellas Park, Fresenius Kidney Care Pinellas Park Dialysis Center, and Suncoast Hospice/Empath Health.
A kind, gentle, and caring man, he will be in our hearts forever.
Thannk you for 11 beautiful years.
I will love you forever. You are my soulmate.
Joeyann
It has been my privilege and honor to be your “little girl” for almost 62 years. You taught me to be kind, loving, respectful, and courteous by your example. I will miss you, Daddy. Love you BIG. ❤
Cal met all the criteria of close friendship. He will be etched in our hearts forever.
It was my pleasure knowing Calvin asmy big brother when he married my sister back in the 50’s. I looked up to him and he was my mentor for I was only about 12/13 years old. I couldn’t ask God for a better brother than Cal. I wish we were closer in the end. A true red blooded American he was. Thanking him for his service to God and Country is not enough and God can use a good mane like Calvin up there in Heaven. May God rest his soul.
Cal was a very special gentleman. He was always smiling & joking with us & Joanne. When you called his phone his message always us laugh. The most important part of our friendship was the fact that he grew closer to God. He loved going to church & being around his church friends. Through every physical difficulty he had such “grace”.It astounded us how he overcame it all. We will miss him… ❤️ Pastor Don & Beverly Lunsford
Cal was such a loving, joyful man of God! It was a privilege and honor knowing you. Thank you for your friendship and for loving and caring for Joanne. It was a blessing to witness the love you two shared. Amen that you are resting in peace with our Lord and Savior. Until we meet again ❤️…
Thank for all that you’ve done for Jeannie and I…you have been so loving and generous and so encouraging…your positive attitude and your inner strength are and example to me on how a man should live his life…I love you and thank God for you…and turn my eyes to heaven and Thank Jesus our Hope of Heaven we will meet again someday…Together In Heaven Dad!
My dad, my mentor, my idol, I will love you always. I’ve tried to live my life following your example and I hope that in my remaining years in this world, I can show the love to my wife like you have to yours. We will meet again when I get to heaven, so please save a spot at the table for me. Love you big.