Obituary: Jean (Herbst) Sawyer

Jean Sawyer, 85, of the Town of Jacksonport, fell asleep in the loving arms of her family at home and awoke in the arms of her Lord, late Friday night, September 29, 2017. She was reunited with husband, Robert, after nearly 19 years (December 23, 1998).

Jean was born at home in West Jacksonport on January 9, 1932, the daughter of William F. Herbst and Lena Rose (Bley) Herbst. She attended Sunny Point School and graduated from Sevastopol High School in 1950. Jean was united in marriage to Robert H. Sawyer on December 9, 1955 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church rectory in Egg Harbor. They were blessed with 43 years of marriage.

Jean and Robert owned and operated Bob and Jean’s Midtown Tap in Egg Harbor (now Mojo Rosa’s). She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her family was everything to her as her door was always open to family and friends, looking forward to all their visits. You always knew where Jean stood as she was willing to share her opinion when it was needed.

She was a lifelong member of Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in West Jacksonport and the Ladies Aid there. Jean was honest and a loving mother who had an unwavering faith in her Lord and treasured her church family. She loved raising her children, being an involved grandmother to her precious grandchildren, and always looked forward to seeing the great-grandchildren and was exited with the two anticipated new arrivals.

Jean’s love will live on in the hearts of her children, Mark (Sarah) Sawyer of Egg Harbor, Barbara (Mike) Lautenbach of Jacksonport, Julie (fiancé, Dan Rehberg) Sawyer, Mary (Philip) Bley, both of West Jacksonport, Bert (Sara) Sawyer of Egg Harbor; 17 grandchildren, Josh (Carissa) Sawyer, Nellie (Eric) DeJardine, Emilie (Pat) Nash, Joe Sawyer, Christine (Paul) Pierquet, Casey (Kelly) Lautenbach, Megan Lautenbach, Leila (Gregory) Balza, Jennifer Zettel, Robert Zettel, Kelly (Adam) Nelson, Sadie (Matt) Ash, Annie Bley, Andrew Bley, Lucy Bley, Sam Sawyer, Lilly Sawyer; nine great-grandchildren, Jaden, Adison, Brody, Sophie Sawyer, Evan, Emma Pierquet, Nora Lautenbach, Owen Balza, Alivia Nelson, and two on the way; brother-in-law, Kenneth Severson of Sturgeon Bay; and her extended Sawyer, Bley, and Herbst families, cousins, nieces, nephews; and dear friends that she valued so much.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband (1930-1998); four brothers and one sister, Walter (1913-1969), Artie (1914-1957), Freddy (1920-1971), John (1918-1919), and Bernice Severson (1924-2016); son, Joey Sawyer (1964-1968); her Sawyer family in-laws, Bill (Millie) Sawyer, Cathleen (Francis) Bink, George (Maureen) Sawyer, and Evelyn (Lawrence “Shorty”) Haen.

Jean’s funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 6, 2017 at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in West Jacksonport with Pastor Peter Lindemann officiating. Jean will be laid to rest in Egg Harbor Town Cemetery beside her husband, Robert.

Family and friends may call at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay on Thursday, October 5, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a devotion to be held at 7:45 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church, Friday morning, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:50 a.m.

Memorials may be given in Jean’s memory for Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in West Jacksonport.

Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Jean may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.