George E. Sawyer

George E. Sawyer, age 89, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Sunday, November 3, 2024 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, November 15, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Cheryl Berg officiating. Organist will be LeAnn Bjornson with special music provided by Tim Ostby

Visitation will be held Thursday, November 14th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service and Time of Sharing at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue Friday morning one hour prior to service time at the church. 

Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Honorary urn bearers will be George's grandchildren: Kelly Gauger, Brady Grohs, Riley Grohs, Carter Sawyer, Brandon Sawyer, Isaac Sawyer, Trevor Sawyer, Gavin Sawyer, Liam Sawyer and Jackson Sawyer. 

George Edward Sawyer was born October 27, 1935 to Earle and Alvina (Buth) Sawyer in Perham, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Luther Church in Fergus Falls, MN. He graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1953 after playing and lettering in five sports. George attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and played basketball for the Cobbers before graduating in 1957. He then married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Nelson in September of 1957 and they moved to Wheaton, MN to begin his teaching and coaching career. George taught Social Studies in Wheaton for both jr. and sr. high students. His first head coaching position was wrestling coach for one year, football assistant coach and assistant and head basketball coach for twenty-five years. He was also the Athletic Director for sixteen years. In 1989 he received the Region 6A Athletic Director of the year award.

His longest high school coaching career was in baseball. In total he coached his teams to 402 career wins. A high light of his journey was throwing out the first pitch at the TWINS game in the Metrodome as recognition of forty-five years of coaching Baseball.

Teaching and coaching were George’s passion. Many times while out with the family, George would proceed to tell the family, I had them in school! In addition to his career, George loved hunting and fishing, especially with his sons and grandsons. He was in the process of planning his annual deer hunting venture when the accident happened.

George was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, serving as Chairman of the Council on several occasions. He also was part of the Men’s AMEN choir.

On Sunday November 3rd, George passed away at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND at the age of eighty-nine surrounded by his wife and family.

He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-seven years, Joyce Sawyer of Wheaton, MN; two daughters: Carrie (Mike) Gauger of Columbus, NE; and Jill Sawyer of Otsego, MN; two sons: Craig (Kay) Sawyer and Jeffrey (Karen) Sawyer both of Melrose, MN; fourteen grandchildren: Kelly (Shannon) Gauger, Dana (Matt) Lieberman, Amber (Mitch) Wachter, Brady Grohs, Riley Grohs, Brandon (Kelli) Sawyer, Trevor (Erika) Sawyer, Gavin Sawyer, MacKenzie (Patrick) Riewer, Carter (Shelby) Sawyer, Issac (Ashton) Sawyer, Gabriel (Shane) Zylstra, Liam and Jackson Sawyer; and eighteen great-grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Beverly Powell.

Blessed be the memory of George Sawyer.