Obituaries
Paul J. Sauer, Jr., 93
December 11, 2025
Paul J. Sauer, Jr., 93, of Lancaster, passed away at Hospice & Community Care in Mount Joy on December 11, 2025, after a brief illness. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Paul J. Sauer, Sr. and Esther R. (Nixdorf) Sauer. He celebrated 61 years of marriage to Marie A. (McKimm) Sauer in 2025. He was preceded in death by both parents and a sister, Rose Margaret Sauer.
Paul was a 1949 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School. He had begun attending daily Mass in 1940, usually doing so not once but several times each day, and also attending most of the daily funerals of area Catholics. This became his enduring lifelong task, often accompanied by Marie in matching colors. Paul is thought to have attended daily Mass on 8,014 consecutive days.
Prior to marriage, Paul had studied to enter the priesthood, first at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary College in Catonsville, Md., 1949-1950, then St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa., 1950-1956. Opting out of ordination, Paul enlisted with the U.S. Navy and served 1956-1960 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, despite never having learned how to swim.
Paul returned to Latrobe and became a Benedictine monk at St. Vincent Archabbey, 1960-1963. There, he was known as Frater Dismas, the Good Thief – or Dizzy, for short. He was an altar server for 14 Masses one day in 1960. When he felt called to married life, he was properly dispensed from his monastic vows in 1963.
While raising six children, Paul was employed in Lancaster for 21 years as a state employment counselor until his retirement in 1988. He said he enjoyed seven days at that job and absolutely hated all the other 7,658.
Paul was active in his Catholic faith, most recently as a member of St. Philip the Apostle in Millersville. At his various parishes in Lancaster, he participated as a choir member, cantor, lector, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, sacristan and sexton, parish chairperson, hoagie sales volunteer, festival and carnival worker, church fundraiser committee member, and parish council member. During a Mass and Healing Service at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Lancaster on June 28, 1993, Paul experienced a miraculous healing, ending 23 years of back pain. A church pilgrimage in 2011 took him to the Holy Land in Israel.
Paul is survived by his wife Marie and their six children: daughter Theresa M. (Kevin) Longenecker of Lancaster, and sons Thomas P. Sauer (Lori) of Maplewood, N.J., David P. Sauer of Lebanon, John P. Sauer (Michelle) of Lititz, Dr. Michael P. Sauer (Becka) of St. Augustine, Fla., and Stephen P. Sauer (Jessica) of Lancaster; as well as one niece, 16 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. He held a special place in his heart for numerous cats in his life.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 11 AM at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 2111 Millersville Pike, Lancaster, PA 17603. The family will receive guests at the church at 10 AM, with a recitation of the rosary at 10:45 AM. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Paul’s name may be made to the cause of your choice.
Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page
Condolences to the Family
December 17, 2025
To Mrs. Sauer, Terri, Tom, Dave, John, Mike and Steve: I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Mr Sauer. He was another father to me as Mike and I grew up. I’ll always remember his sense and humor and kind personality. Many great moments thinking about the times shared during sleepovers on Lemon Street. You are all in my thoughts. Steve Bradley
December 16, 2025
To John and the entire Sauer family,
Please accept our deepest sympathy on the passing of your father. He certainly was a man of great inspiration to all who knew him.
Joe and Ginny McCaskey
December 16, 2025
Marie, Terri, and brothers, please accept my deepest condolences at this difficult time. He will continue to watch over you.
Gene Melby
December 15, 2025
Sending you our prayers and condolences. Paul was such a pillar of our local Catholic Community. I honestly wasn’t sure where he was registered or which was his home parish because he attended all the events at all of the parishes. What a loss! The beautiful thing about Catholicism is that the Church triumphant and suffering in Purgatory are present at each mass. Paul will still be there. He has prepared. I was blessed to have known him.
Joseph & Hermina Cunningham
December 15, 2025
Dear Marie, Terry, Steve and Family. My deepest sympathies on the passing of your dear husband and father. I have many fond memories of singing with Paul at Saint Anne Church many years ago. He was always a pleasure to talk to, and sing with. Well done good and faithful servant. Rest in Peace, Paul. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time. God Bless.
Jill Ferretti
December 13, 2025
I first met Paul when he was giving out copies of his writing after Daily Mass and he gave one to me. After that he’d give me many more and sometimes I wrote back to him. He wrote about everything, God, his wife, his children, his history, his thoughts, his ailments, his daily chores. Sometimes he asked questions and then answered them. Whatever he was thinking about was what he’d write. He and Marie were an inspiration to us with their dedication to God and church. It is said we have a finite amount of time on earth so let us do good within that time. He sure packed a lot of good into his time on earth. Bob and I will miss seeing him at Mass, and I’ll miss all the wisdom he passed along, but he lived his life to get to heaven, and I think that’s where he is right now. May he rest in peace. Our sympathy to his family. May God give you comfort and peace. Ginny and Bob Anspach
December 13, 2025
Our sincere sympathy to Marie and the Family for the loss of their dear Husband and Father. In your grief remember his life and cherish good times. Paul was such good and kind man! You are in our thoughts and prayers. Ken+Joyce Kraft
December 13, 2025
Sympathy to you and your family. Your dad certainly lived a full life.He had a great family to share it with as well as friends and acquaintances. A life well lived. Bonita Rohrer
December 13, 2025
To Marie, Steve and your entire family,
It is with great sadness I saw on Facebook the passing of your husband and father. May the life he led be a comfort and inspiration to you and all those who knew him. He truly was a servant of God.
With Our Deepest Sympathy,
John and Nancy Straw
December 13, 2025
I have such distinct memories of your dad at Saint Anne’s Saturday night mass, one in particular where Dottie Goldberg was singing and for the final song, your dad out of nowhere, from his seat, came in with the deepest harmony to her that shocked but delighted us all. I don’t remember the song, but the memory is burned into my brain. You all then just quietly packed up ready to leave with no fanfare expected, and I thought that was just the coolest thing. Love to you all. Megan Roth
December 13, 2025
Please accept our prayers and deepest sympathy for the loss of your Father. He had an amazing life of 93 years. May your memories help to comfort you in the days ahead.
God Bless,
Chauncey & Mary Murr
December 13, 2025
Steve, so sorry for the loss of your father. He was a wonderful person. May God watch over him and your family. Many prayers for all of you at this time of sadness . Pat Stetter
December 13, 2025
I’m so sorry for loss. He gave me a calming feeling feeling I always left his presence for relaxed and like the rush rush modern day world can wait. He also made me laugh with some joke or gesture ior story. I’m deeply saddened by his passing. I may not be able to attend the service but I will be thinking of your family. Justin Oster
December 13, 2025
In Deepest Sympathy to the Sauer family. Carol Miller
- Visitation
- Tuesday, December 16, 2025
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church
- 2111 Millersville Pike
- Lancaster, PA 17603
- Map and Directions
-
Get Maps and Directions > - Services
- Tuesday, December 16, 2025
- 11:00 AM
- St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church
- 2111 Millersville Pike
- Lancaster, PA 17603
- Map and Directions
-
Get Maps and Directions >
