John “Jack” W. Sanders, Sr. passed away peacefully into the Arms of his Lord and Savior at his home in Cabot, PA at 11:50 AM on December 26, 2020. He was born in Pittsburgh on July 3, 1924 and was the youngest son of Raymond and Margaret Sanders.
Jack's family moved to Butler when he was nine. He worked at various jobs prior to WW2, most notably at the Bantam Car Co. He served in the 557th Anti-Aircraft Battalion attached to the 84th Airborne Division as the unit’s supply clerk. He also drove and maintained the company’s jeeps throughout Europe, which started his lifelong interest in the vehicle. After the war, Jack worked at several service stations and eventually started his own Mobil Service Station on Center Ave before changing careers to a financial planner for Investor Diversified Services (IDS), which later became Ameriprise. He retired in 1990. Jack was a member of the Elk’s and sang in the Men’s Chorus, He is a Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus, and a Veteran of Foreign Wars.
Jack married the love of his life, Anne Rodgers, on September 12, 1949. They were married 65 years before her passing in December 2014. Both were members of St. Paul Church in Butler, where Jack served as a lector and occasional cameraman for many years. He was also a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus and the Elks Club, of which he had fond memories of being in their chorus. An avid golfer, Jack was also a champion duck- pin bowler in his youth. He was always “a friend of the workingman” and always wished whomever he ran into, “Have a good day today and a better day tomorrow, and may all your troubles be little ones.” When asked how he was, he would reply, “hanging in there like sleeves on a vest.”
Jack was preceded in death by his wife and an infant son, his parents and four older siblings. He is survived by six children: Terry (Dr. Joseph) Bevelacqua of Richland, WA; Carol (Dr. Scott) Borderud, of Burleson, TX; Dr. Kathy Sanders of Boston, MA; David (Barbara) Sanders of Fredericksburg, VA; John Sanders, Jr. (Dawn) of Cabot, PA; and Mark (Marsha) Sanders of Grove City, OH, as well as 22 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces, nephews and their children.
Visitation will be conducted at Geibel’s Funeral Home on Friday, January 1, 2021 at 3-5 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at St Paul Church, McKean St, Butler, PA, at 10:00 AM, with interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Jack to Missionaries of the Poor, USA, PO Box 29893, Atlanta, GA 30359.
Everyone attending is required to provide and wear a facial covering, also practice social distancing. Groups limited to 10 people.
Everyone attending is required to provide and wear a facial covering, also practice social distancing. Groups limited to 10 people.
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