Clifford John Sauer

ENDEAVOR – Clifford John Sauer, age 78, of Endeavor, died on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from Pancreatic Cancer, with his family by his side.  Cliff fought as long as his body would let him.

Clifford was born on July 20, 1947, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, the son of Sylvester and Viola (Seegert) Sauer. He graduated from Horicon High School in 1965, and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  On March 4, 1967, Cliff married Mary Hibner.  He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1969.

Cliff worked at Mayville Metal Products for 38 years, retiring on December 21, 2007.  He loved watching sports, especially the Badgers, Packers, Brewers and Bucks.  Cliff and Mary loved to go to the casinos, take family trips and meeting up for breakfast with their friends.  In his earlier years he was a Sunday School teacher at United Methodist Church in Portage.  Cliff enjoyed bowling with the Odd Fellows. 

Cliff is survived by his children, Ronald (Lisa Kluge) Sauer, Nicole (Larry) LaSure and Traci Sauer;  grandchildren, Alexis (Hunter) Hayes, Kaylee (Leven) Davey, Austin LaSure (Esperanza) and Aden Daniels;  great-grandchildren, Sophia Hayes and Luka Hayes;  his brother-in-law, Richard Mitchell;  his sister-in-law, Bonnie Hibner;  nieces, nephews and many close friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester and Viola, his wife, Mary Sauer in 2025, his brother and sister-in-law, Delmar and Helen Sauer, his sister, Lorraine Mitchell, his infant brother, his in-laws, Vern and Mary Hibner, and five brothers-in-law, Richard, Kenneth, Donald, David and Maurice Hibner. 

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, with Pastor Kay Hallanger officiating.  Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery in Endeavor, with Military Honors provided by local veterans.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday at the funeral home.  Cliff would like you to wear your favorite sports team.

The family would like to thank the VA and UW doctors and staff for the care he received, and making it possible for him to come home to spend his remaining time with his family.  Thank you to Agrace for helping the family make him comfortable toward the end of his life.  Also, thank you to Mario and Gigi Hernandez for bringing the family food.  Dad said from the very beginning he was going to do everything he could to fight, even though the odds were against him with all his other health issues.  From the beginning, chemo was not an option.  He decided to do surgery to remove the tumor and spleen, as they felt it was in an early stage.  He pushed and pushed for chemo, which he was finally able to have, but infection had other plans.  He had one obstacle after another, and then said if all the poking and proding can help someone else, it was worth it. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.