John E. Saucier, 73, of Medina, passed away Thursday, December 10, 2009, in Cleveland. He was born in Putnam, Connecticut on March 7, 1936 to the late Emery E. and Eva Saucier.

Mr. Saucier retired from teaching with 33 years with the Medina City Schools and three years at schools in the Toledo area. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Medina. He was also on the board of directors for "TEAM JAM", a member of OEA and the Medina City Teachers Assoc. Dad, Grandpa, Teacher, "The Cooz", Friend, PapaBear, Sauce, Basketball or Baseball teammate, follower of Christ. This is who he was to us.

An athletic scholarship to Bowling Green State Univer­sity in 1956 brought him from Worcester, Massachusetts, but instead of athletic glory, he met his future wife of 49 years and resided in Ohio. In 1971, he met a neighbor, David Toro, home on furlough for one year from the mission field. Toro had the courage to ask him "Would you like to know how you can have a guarantee for heaven?" The simple expla­nation of how a person can have forgiveness and salva­tion through faith and su­rrender in Him as Lord of their lives was accepted. In his words, this was the greatest single moment of his life and that is how he spent the rest of his life in sharing the good news of Christ.

As a friend, he wanted nothing more but for you to know the peace, direction and hope that he has with Jesus Christ. He would often look at you thoughtfully and say, "I'm simply trying to find a way to help you."

As a teacher, he made sure they succeeded, pursued their dreams and was available to compliment them and share in their successes for the rest of their lives.

As a father, he was incre­dibly encouraging, loving and available to listen to every detail of our lives. His children never tired of spending time with him and sharing their lives with him. Our time was his; his time was ours, endless, always willing.

As a husband, he was forever devoted, dependable, loving. To his wife, he always felt he "married up." But his wife never felt that way. He was exactly what she needed, loved and wanted for a total of 52 years.

He concluded every conver­sation in person or on the phone with "love you always". And of course those were the last words he told us on this earth as well. And to him we share the same senti­ment. "We love you always."

The words of the song describe him perfectly: You can have all this world ... But give me Jesus. When I come to die, Give me Jesus. You can have all this world, but give me Jesus.

John is survived by his wife of 49 years, Joyce (nee Klin­ger); son, John (Pam) Saucier of Streetsboro; daughters, Jean (Tim) Volante of Kissim­mee, Florida, Joan (Dwight) Schulz of Elkhart, Indiana and Julie (Michael) Steingass of Burbank; grandchildren, Johnathan, Hannah, Brianna, Joshua Saucier, Drew and Lauren Schulz, Michael, Daniel and Samuel Steingass; sister, Connie (George) Barna of Vestal, New York and brother, George (Dorothy) Saucier of Worcester, Massa­chusetts.

Visitation will be Sunday, December 13, 2009, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. at Waite & Son Funeral Home, 765 N. Court St., Medina. Services will be at 11 A.M., Monday, Decem­ber 14, 2009, at the funeral home, with Pastor Mark Milioni officiating. Burial will be at Eastlawn Memory Gardens in Brunswick.

Contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Medina, 3646 Medina Rd., Medina, OH 44256.