Mr. Richard Joseph Sauer, better known as "Dick" age 78, of West Jefferson died Tuesday morning, May 4, 2010 at Forsyth Medical Center. Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 11:00am at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Father Roland Hautz officiating. The family will receive friends after the funeral mass in the fellowship hall. Mr. Sauer was born in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, August 7, 1931 to the late Joseph William Sauer and Clara Wipple Sauer. He was the Durham County Fire Marshall. He was also preceded in death by a son, Richard Joseph Sauer, Jr. and a sister, Carol Sauer Roach. Mr. Sauer is survived by his wife, Rose Lamacchia Sauer; five sons, David Sauer and wife, Beth, of Mebane, NC, Michael Sauer of West Jefferson, Danny Sauer, of Raleigh, Mark Sauer and wife, Jean, of Charleston, SC and Jack Sauer and wife, Marley, of Durham; two daughters, Rita Tindell and husband, Robert, of Leesburg, GA and Karen Hicks and husband, Phil, of Butner, NC; two brothers, Joe Sauer of Petersburg, Florida and Larry Sauer, of Lexington, NC; fourteen grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; several nieces & nephews also survive In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: Ashe County Heart Association, c/o June Weaver, PO Box 791, Jefferson, NC 28640 or American Diabetes Association, 3109 Popular Woodcourt, Suite 125, Raleigh, NC 27604