Spar M. Sager, age 96 of Escanaba passed away Sunday June 7 at Northwoods Assisted Living where he had been a resident for the last several years.
Born in Grand Rapids to Martin and Mathilde (Simonson) Sager, he and his sister Zella were raised in Stephenson, Michigan where their parents owned and operated a truck farm. Spar was class president and valedictorian of his class at Stephenson High School and went on to graduate from Michigan State University.
Spar served in the military during World War II drafting maps for the Army. He returned to Escanaba after his discharge in 1946 and joined the U.S. Forest Service. After his retirement in the sixties, Spar embarked on a second career owning a nursery and landscaping business in Escanaba. Much of his landscaping work can be seen along the Lakeshore Drive on both public and private lands. Spar was especially proud of his work with Ducks Unlimited and was an active member of Escanaba Elks Lodge 354. For many years Spar was a fixture at the Stonehouse where he regularly dined with his special friend Marge Durkin who preceded him in death in October of 2007.
Spar is survived by a daughter Carol Klingeisen of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, nieces Judith Tallale of Daytona Beach, Florida and Mary Kringel of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, nephew Michael McAuliffe of Racine, Wisconsin, many grand and great nieces and nephews and beloved friends Ellen Durkin King of Northville, Michigan and Timothy Durkin of Atlanta, Georgia and their families.
Graveside services for Spar will be Friday, June 12 at 1:00 P.M. at Gardens of Rest Cemetery in Wells with Pastor Mary Laub officiating. Military Honors will be present by the Delta County Veterans Council. The Sager family is being assisted by theSkradski Funeral Home in Escanaba.
Anonymous
Dear Sager Family,
My Name is Alida Sullivan and I live near Seattle, WA. I am 45 years old. My Grandpa was Harvard Sager, son of Simon Sager. My Great Aunt Lydia who is 91 and lives in Modesto, CA just told me of Spar’s passing. I wanted to send my condolances. I sounds like Spar was a fine man with a long, interesting life. I really like the name Spar and he was very handsome too! I am sorry that I never met him and that I have not had a chance to get to know any of my Sager relatives in the Michigan area. I wish you peace and comfort. Please feel free to contact me and know that your long lost cousin(?) is thinking of you from the west coast. My sister, Maureen,and mother, Natalie Sager, who both live in Oregon are also sending healing thoughts your way.
Alida Sullivan
Monroe, WA
Spar was a very important person to our family as I was growing up and I have very fond memories of Spar’s visits. I have thought about him often and stayed in touch over holidays and through my father Carl Bennett. He will be missed.
Patti Bennett-DeGuzman
Poway, CA
I have known Spar for 70 years. My father, Carl L Bennett, Sr. and Spar worked together in the late 30’s on blister rust control until world war II began. The three of us hunted, trapped, fished, cut timber, etc. after the war. We left Escanaba in 1952 and eventually ended up in southern MI where Spar would come down each year to hunt pheasants and later he and I would go layout shooting for waterfowl. I am sorry we didn’t find out about Spar’s passing until today and couldn’t make the funeral since it is a 7 hour drive but I did talk to him just before he died. He was a fabulous role model and why I had a career in wildlife research and management. I am going to miss him probably as much as you.
Carl L Bennett, Jr.
Haslett, MI
Spar was a significant part of life in my family. He stepped in when my father passed away. May he find peace.
Ellen D King
Northville, MI