Sage, Bert Cyrus

Bert Cyrus Sage, longtime resident of Lamont, recently of Strawberry Point, passed away Feb. 5, 2012.

Bert was born June 13, 1913, to Cyrus and Elizabeth (Foster) Sage, in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Bert grew up in the Mason City area, where he was schooled and achieved the highest rank in Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout. As a young man, Bert enlisted with the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC) and was assigned to work building the roads, shelters, trails, etc., of Backbone State Park. It was when he was working at Backbone Park that he met Evelyn Macyl Rule whom he married in Galena, Ill., in December 1936.

In 1939, Bert and Macyl left the Rule family farm near Dundee and moved to Mason City. While living in Mason City, Bert and his brother-in-law, Earl Rule, helped in the war effort by transporting food across the country by truck. After the war, Bert operated a gas station and garage in Mason City. In 1953, Bert and Macyl returned to farming on the Rule family homestead. Bert continued hauling livestock to the stockyards in Chicago.

In the early 1960s, Bert and Macyl left the farm and Bert returned to trucking full time. He eventually owned a truck line which operated out of Lamont for many years, primarily transporting fresh commodities from Iowa to the east coast.

Bert was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Dorothy Boyce; the love of his life, Macyl; and grandsons, Scott Sage and Jonathan Barnes.

He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Doug and Kay (Carpenter) Sage of Lamont, Terry and Susan (Whetstine) Sage of Avon Park, Fla., and Greg and Brenda (Hawker) Sage of Fallbrook, Calif.; daughters, Jane Sage of Golden Valley, Minn., Jill Sage Barnes of Golden Valley, Minn., and Jodi Sage of Dubuque; daughter-in-law, Ronda Nading-Elliott of Lamont; grandchildren, David (Patrice) Sage, Nancy (James) Bernal, Kathy (Rick) Kretz, Chad Sage, Shannon (Chris) DaGrossa, Chrystal (Jeff) Kowallis, Doug (Julie) Barnes, David (Kristi) Barnes, Colleen (Tim Rech) Barnes, Drennon Murray, Dillon Murray, Jeff Elliott (Jen Weepie), Matt (Katie) Elliott and Kate Elliott; 23 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson; and sister-in-law, Marjorie Dauenbaugh.

Always eager to learn, Bert was an avid reader. He was an intelligent student who didn't have the opportunity to complete his high school education due to the untimely death of his mother when he was 17. Bert was a devoted follower of “As the World Turns” from the time it was on radio through its entire television run. He loved automobiles and was enchanted by anything that had an engine and wheels. He never missed listening to the radio broadcast of the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend.

He will be remembered fondly and with great affection by his grandchildren with whom he surely spent the best days of his life.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Bert will be interred in Riverside, Calif., next to his beloved Macyl.

The Fawcett Funeral Home of Lamont is assisting the family with arrangements.

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Published Feb. 9, 2012 in The Gazette