James A. Saur

Saur, James A. EAST GREENBUSH James A. Saur, 83, ended his sojourn upon this earth on February 8, 2022, and his spirit went home to his maker. He died peacefully at home with family by his side. Jim was born on January 5, 1939, in Troy, to Gustav and Margaret (Brown) Saur. Jim graduated from Watervliet High School in Watervliet, class of 1957. He was captain of the baseball team, editor of the senior yearbook, junior class vice president, student council, and National Honor Society. After graduation, he became employed at Niagara Mohawk Power Company and then soon after joined the Army. He was stationed at Carlisle Barracks War College in Carlisle, Pa. While serving there, he was given the Military Driver of the Year award (1959). He was also a member of the barrack's rifle team. While serving in Carlisle, he met his future wife, Ruth, at a YMCA dance. After his discharge and their marriage, they moved back to Watervliet where Jim rejoined the workforce of Niagara Mohawk where he worked for 42 years in various capacities. At the time of his retirement from National Grid in 1999, he was part of the team at the Eastern Region Control Center in Guilderland. He was a member of Niagara Mohawk 25-year Club, Pension Club East, golf league and baseball team. Jim was a multifarious person having many diverse interests. He was a fly fisherman and enjoyed fishing with the flies that he personally tied. He was a former member of Trout Unlimited. A memorable experience he had while fishing for salmon in Alaska was several visits to their camp by grizzly bears. He also enjoyed downhill skiing, canoeing (he made his own canoe), boating, traveling, art, music, photography, coin and stamp collecting, and taking long walks. He was a movie buff and uniquely enjoyed researching bias of the major cast members. Jim was an avid golfer for most of his life and played at several prominent courses throughout the country. He and Ruth spent many happy years square dancing. He was class coordinator for Tamarac Twirlers Square Dance Club, and was also a member of the Pittsfield Squares. Jim was a hands-on person and could fix and build almost anything, and it had to be done right. He drew the blueprints and specs for the house he later had built. Jim was a rock-solid, dependable family man and loved his family dearly; they were of the utmost importance to him. He truly enjoyed helping people and was privileged to have helped many throughout his life. Jim is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ruth (Iseman) of East Greenbush and formerly of Ford City, Pa.; son, Keith S. Saur (Nancy) of Delmar; daughter, Diane (Mark) Wagner of Malta; grandson, Daniel Millham of Rensselaer; and sister, Katherine Saur of Watervliet. He is also survived by nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents. Calling hours and the funeral will be on Tuesday, February 15, at the Wm. J. Rockefeller Funeral Home Inc., 165 Columbia Tpke., Rensselaer beginning at 9 a.m. with a service at 10 a.m. Interment will be in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville. "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." - Ecclesiastes 12:7.