Sawyer, James G.

James G. Sawyer, 76, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, July 7, 2011, in a white water rafting accident while attending a family reunion in Wyoming. Memorial services at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 6, at Westminster Presbyterian Church where friends may call after 11 a.m. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jim is survived by his wife, Sandy; his son, Doug (Lisa) of Gilbert, Ariz.; and three daughters, Gwen Kirsch of Cedar Rapids, Lisa (Gene) Sawyer of Kansas City, Mo., and Kellie (Rich) Goldsborough of Greensboro, N.C.

He is also survived by a brother, John (Dixie) Sawyer of Elizabeth, Colo.; five grandchildren, Allie and Derek Kirsch, and Brent, Jana and Emma Sawyer; and an aunt, Jean Schneider of York, Neb.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Mike Sawyer.

Jim was born on Dec. 20, 1934, in Moorefield, Neb., the son of Russell and Violet (Rasp) Sawyer. He married Sandy McLaughlin on Oct. 12, 1957, in Los Angeles. Jim had a 30 year engineering career at Rockwell Collins, starting as a systems analyst and later joined the Railroad Division, until his retirement in 1995.

Jim enjoyed golf, extensive travel with Sandy, grilling, working crossword puzzles and Sudoku.

He was a gentle, intelligent, wonderful man. He will always be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Memorial donations may be given to Stanford University GSB, Attention: Andy Sharp, 655 Knights Way, Stanford, CA 94035; Renewal Fellowship Fund Class of 1961.

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