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Harold "Hal" Sauser
Born: 1/28/1928
Died: 6/18/2018
Age: 90
Community: Clio, MI
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Harold Victor (Hal) Sauser, age 90, died on 18 June 2018 at Cranberry Park Transitions in Clio, surrounded by his loving family. His long life began on 28 January 1928, when he was born at home in Crystal Valley, Michigan. He grew up in Crystal Valley amongst his eight brothers and sisters, doing what he could to help his farming family survive. He graduated from Hart High School in 1946, whereupon he enlisted in the Army to serve his country following WWII.
After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1947, Hal utilized the generous benefits of
the GI Bill to help him become the first in his family to graduate from college (Western
Michigan University). He later completed a master’s degree in school administration (also from Western) and eventually received an Educational Specialist’s Degree from Michigan State University.
Hal lived his entire life in Michigan. He began his professional life as a teacher in Galesburg, where he met the love of his life, Mildred (Micki) Hall, whom he married in 1952. In 1961, the family moved to Three Oaks, where Hal was the superintendent of the Three Oaks school system. When that small system consolidated with several others in the area, Hal was asked to be the superintendent of the new consolidated River Valley school system. By this time, Hal and Micki had four children, all boys, who ran wild in Three Oaks (assisted by legions of friends) until the family moved to Clio in 1973. Hal was the superintendent of Clio area schools until his retirement in 1986. He was a long-time member of the Lion’s Club and Rotary Club and was a member of Saints Charles & Helena Catholic Church in Clio.
Hal’s many professional accomplishments were due to his integrity, competence, and grace, allof which abounded in his personal life as well. He was the kind of man who never met a stranger. He could, and did, strike up a conversation with anyone about nearly anything (if he knew nothing about the topic, he’d fake it as long as he could, then confess his ignorance and laugh). He loved people, and they loved him back.
He was, by all accounts, perhaps the world’s worst avid golfer. He and Micki were long-time
members of the Clio Country Club, where Hal proudly sported a 36-handicap (the highest
permitted). This was due to his unshakeable belief that one could not possibly make a golf ball go up by hitting down on it, and he spent his entire golfing life in a fruitless effort to prove his theory. But no matter – he loved to play golf, and his complete lack of skill, though very occasionally a source of anger, was more often a source of great amusement to him. His sons, on the other hand, think he really just liked driving the cart around. His greatest golfing success was a hole-in-one during a golf outing, for which Hal won a car! Typically, he took the cash value of the car instead, so he could share it with his whole family. He loved watching sports, especially the Spartans, the Tigers and the Lions. And he couldn’t wait until 5:00 PM every day, so that he could mix a martini for himself, a Manhattan for Micki, and whatever other libation any friends present wished to have.
Hal loved Micki to the end of the earth and back, and they both loved their family, immediate
and extended. Hal would do anything for his grandchildren especially – and would put up with antics galore to the endless delight of the little ones (and their parents). He endured countless “sneak attacks” with all manner of “weapons,” of which a plunger (which he wound up wearing as a hat) is the most notable, and he would chase the children around until he couldn’t any longer.
Hal was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Theresa, all of his many siblings, his infant daughter, Lisa, and his son, Jon. He is survived by his loving wife, Micki Sauser, sons Bob (Anne) Sauser, Tom (Cindy) Sauser, Jeff (Joy) Sauser, grandchildren Jennifer (Terri), Kimberly (CJ), Drew (Katie), Matthew, Jake (Christina), Jonnie, Cameron, Elizabeth, Brandon, Amber, and Lindsey (Nick), many great-grandchildren, and friends too numerous to count, all of whom will miss him beyond measure.
The family wishes to thank the many people who have assisted in these last trying times,
including Bill and Sue, Bill and Ag, Tony and Juli, Cheryl, Brian, the many neighbors in and
around Hidden Oaks, the great people at Cranberry Park, and the wonderful people from
Cardinal Hospice. There are not words to tell you how grateful the family is for your help and
your compassion.
The family will receive visitors at the O'Guinn Family Funeral Home in Clio on Thursday from 6-8 PM. There will be a service at Saints Charles and Helena Catholic Church in Clio on Friday 22 June 2018 at 11:00 AM. Rev. Fr. Ken Coughlin officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Clio Area Educational Foundation. |
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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6/21/2018 |
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6:00 PM |
| Thursday from 6-8 PM. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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6/22/2018 |
| Time: |
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11:00 AM |
| Official: |
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