Ralph Junior Sawyer

Ralph Junior Sawyer, 73, of Mascoutah, IL, born October 19, 1934 in Dorchester, IL, died Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, IL.


Ralph was a retired steelworker from Keystone Steel and Wire in Bartonville, IL. He was a school crossing guard at 6th and Poplar streets in Mascoutah for 7 years; a 32nd degree Scottish Rites Mason; and he and his wife Jeanette were gate attendants at Boulder Campground COE at Carlyle Lake for the past 5 years.


He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Eugene and Pearl Diane, nee Sirotti, Sawyer; a son-in-law, Stephen Lane; and a sister.


He is survived by his wife, Jeanette S., nee Gramm, Sawyer, whom he married in Staunton, IL on July 19, 1953; four children, Linda (Wade) DeVoss of E. Peoria, IL, Deb (Kim) Johnson of Washington, IL, Michael (Tanya) Sawyer of Fairview Heights, IL, and Ralph (Kim) Sawyer III of Mascoutah, IL; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three sisters.


Memorials may be made to Shriner’s Hospital.


Visitation: friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 at the Moll Funeral Home in Mascoutah, IL. A Masonic service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.


Funeral: A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 at Moll Funeral Home with Pastor Joey Feldmann officiating.