John Sawyer, age 89, of 1823 Crawford Street, died at his home on January 13, 2012.

A Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Sacred Heart with Rev. Randy Schon officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Boone Veterans Council.

John was born in Boone on January 9, 1923, the son of Harold and Karna (Thorson) Sawyer.

John was the eldest of seven children who grew up on a farm east of Boone.

He graduated from Jordan High School in 1940 and Boone Junior College in 1942.

In 1943, John entered the United States Army and served with the Army Air Force during World War II as an airplane and engine mechanic.

In 1950, John served with the Air Force during the Korean War.

On October 1, 1946, John married Charlotte Judge in Boone.

John started working as a conductor for the Chicago Northwestern Railway, and then as a brakeman for the Fort Dodge Des Moines and Southern and finally as a brakeman, again for the Chicago Northwestern Railway. After 36 years of service, he retired February 28, 1982.

John was a member of the American Legion #56, V.F.W. #817, the Knights of Columbus Leo Council #814, National Association of Retired Veteran Railroad Employees, United Transportation Union, and the Iowa Railroad Historical Society.

He enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, reading, computer work, traveling with his wife, Charlotte, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

John had a passion for learning and teaching others about natural remedies.

He also loved his volunteer work as a conductor with the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Beth Baker and Alice Miriam McBride, brother Ernest Sawyer, and brother-in-law Max Robinson.

John is survived by his wife Charlotte of Boone; four sons: Thomas, James, and Michael and wife Doreen, all of Boone, and Joseph of Mission, Texas; a daughter Patricia Miles and husband Erik of Cedar Rapids; a brother Thomas Sawyer and wife Shari of Edgewood, New Mexico; two sisters, Mary Robinson of Oceanside, California, and Charlotte Millard and husband Jerry of Silvis, Illinois; sister-in-law Beverly Sawyer of Sycamore, Illinois; and brother-in-law Luvern Baker of Boone; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Schroeder Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall on Tuesday from 1 until 8 p.m., where a Vigil Service will be at 7 p.m. and a Rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. The family will be present to receive friends Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.

Visitation continues Wednesday at the funeral chapel from 8 to 10 a.m.

Memorials may be given to the Church of the Sacred Heart or the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad.