Jess W. Saur

Jess W. Saur, 80, of Middletown, passed away on Friday, February 12, 2016, after a short, but intense battle with vasculitis. A longtime resident of Middletown, RI, he had recently been receiving loving care at the Village House Nursing Rehabilitation Center in Newport, since August 2015.Jess was born in August, 1935 in Jersey Shore, PA to Ruby and Isaac Saur. He grew up as an only child on the family farm. In 1951, he joined the Navy to see the world. Jess completed Navy boot camp at Great Lakes, IL, and went on to become a Boatswain's Mate. As was typical for the rate, he accumulated 17 years of sea duty, serving on everything from Cruisers and Mine Sweepers, to an Amphibious Command Ship. He traveled the world and saw many places, but it was on a North Atlantic NATO cruise, stationed aboard the USS Macon (CA-132), and while in Sweden, Jess met the love of his life, Gunnel. After 5 dates and many letters, Gunnel came to the United States to meet Jess' family, and they were married on February 8, 1957. Within 4 years, they had two children, Marie and Michael. Jess served his country for 22 years and retired from the Navy in 1974 from Naval Station Newport as a Chief Boatswain's Mate.Having set anchor, Jess started the second phase of his life when he got hired by Salve Regina University in the Maintenance Department. There, he was able to use his vast mechanical experience and homespun wisdom to help serve and support the students and faculty, whom he came to think of as family. While at Salve, he started taking courses and graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Art. He worked at Salve for 24 years and touched the lives of thousands.No doubt, Jess' favorite place was in his garden, where he grew Dahlias, which he showed, as a member of the Rhode Island and American Dahlia Societies. His favorite part of gardening was to share his knowledge and Dahlias with friends and neighbors. Jess only met a stranger once; the second time, you were already a friend.Jess wore many hats in his lifetime; husband, father, Boats, chief, and most proudly, grandfather, gramps and grandpaw.Jess is survived by his wife, Gunnel, his daughter Marie, his son Michael, his daughter-in-law Cheryl and his beloved grandchildren, Matthew, Philip and Rebecca. A private service will be held at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, RI.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to the Disabled American Veterans PO Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.. Cemetery Details RI Veteran's Memorial Cemetery Exeter, RI,