John Sauer IV DDS

John L. Sauer IV DDS, 56, of Jackson passed away unexpectedly Monday, June 7, 2021, at his home.

John was born Nov. 29, 1964, in Mobile, Alabama, to Paul E. and Beverly Bales Sauer. He and Sheila Barks were married July 31, 2004, in Mena, Arkansas. They had been married nearly 17 years when Sheila passed away May 15, 2021.

John was a 1983 graduate of Willard High School in Willard, Missouri. He played football and baseball and was selected as an All-Conference Defensive End during his senior year. He was also a collegiate athlete, playing football and baseball while attending Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri. John received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Missouri--Kansas City School of Dentistry in 1991. In 2003, John established his dental practice in Cape Girardeau: John L. Sauer DDS. In subsequent years, he founded and coordinated the Annual Tunica Extravaganza, an event that offered continuing education courses in the field of dentistry.

Above all, John loved spending time with his family, but he also enjoyed traveling, history, trivia, classic rock music and good food (but not cooking). He had always been a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, but after the birth of John Paul, he became an avid Jackson Indian fan, and also loved coaching and developing youth teams. He was instrumental in establishing Tribe Baseball in Jackson. John devoted 17 years as a referee for high school football throughout Southeast Missouri. Eleven of those years he was a "White Hat Ref." He concluded his 17-year career in 2012 with a state championship game.

Loving survivors include three children, John Paul Sauer of the home; Logan (Garret) Light and their son, Linkin of Biehle, Missouri; and Paige Birk of Columbia, Missouri; his mother, Beverly Sauer of Springfield, Missouri; a sister, Kim Sauer Hightower DDS of San Diego, California; a stepsister, Michele Hall Miller of West Plains, Missouri; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jerry and Glenda Barks of Jackson; a sister-in-law, Rebecca "Becky" (Gary) Peters of Jackson; nieces and nephews, Dr. Chase (Emily) Hightower; Kendall, Seth, Lyndsey and Jack Hightower, all of San Diego; Audrey (Zac) Gendron and their son, Sawyer of Jackson; and Collin Peters (Maci McCuan) of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sheila, and his father, Dr. Paul E. Sauer and wife, Linda.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at New McKendree United Methodist Church, 225 South High St., in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m., Friday at the church with the Revs. Jimmie Corbin and Charles Buck officiating. Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the John L. Sauer Memorial Fund, which has been established for the betterment of youth sports in Jackson. All checks should be made payable to the John L. Sauer Memorial Fund. Contributions may be made during the visitation or mailed to McCombs Funeral Home, 640 W. Independence, Jackson, MO 63755.

Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com, navigating to John's personal obituary page, and clicking on the tribute wall tab above the obituary.