Gunnel Margaretha Saur, 91, of Middletown, Rhode Island passed away at home with her family by her side on March 23, 2024. She was the wife of the late Jess Saur for 59 years.
Gunnel was born in Goteborg, Sweden in May of 1932, the first child of Harold and Edith Andersson. World War II interrupted her childhood, and she was taken out of the city in case the hostilities came to Sweden. After the war, she completed her formal education and technical schooling and went to work at the Tax Office in Goteborg. Gunnel loved to travel and learn foreign languages which helped when she visited numerous foreign countries including Germany and England.
On 20 June 1956, at an amusement park name Liseberg, her life took a turn. USS Macon (CA-132) pulled into Goteborg as part of a North Atlantic cruise. That night, she met BM3 Jess Saur, and they danced the night away. In August of that year, she flew to the US for the first time to meet Jess’ family and they got engaged on 11 August. On 25 January 1957, Gunnel left Sweden aboard the M/S Stockholm, arriving in New York City on 4 February. Four days later, she and Jess were married in Williamsport, PA, and they started a family immediately. Over the course of the next 10 years, they moved from Massachusetts to Cuba to Rhode Island, and Charleston, SC. While in Charleston, Gunnel completed all the requirements and became a U.S. citizen, something of which she was immensely proud. Shortly after that, Jess got orders to Bremerhaven, Germany and this provided her the opportunity to return to Sweden and see her family for the first time since she left 10 years earlier.
After four years in Europe, Gunnel and her family returned to Rhode Island where Jess retired, and they bought a house and settled down. Gunnel directed all her attention to raising her family and setting them up for success. With children grown and husband working at Salve Regina, Gunnel was able to travel the world visiting her family in Sweden and her son and his family at almost every duty station to which they were assigned. Soon grandchildren came and she set about loving and spoiling them at every opportunity.
In February 2016, shortly after their 59th Wedding anniversary, Jess died leaving a large hole in her life. Drawing even closer to her family, she continued on. Declining health started to take its toll, but she took it in stride. Travel decreased but she continued to live by her motto, “one day at a time”. On Saturday, 23 March 2024, she left us to go be with her heavenly Father. She is survived by her daughter Marie, son Michael, and his wife, Cheryl, grandchildren Matthew, Philip, Rebecca, her two brothers Tom and Kaj Falmer and their families.
A private service will be held at the Rhode Island Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, RI.
The family would like to thank the fantastic medical staff at Visiting Nurse Home and Hospice, the wonderful staff of Coastal Medical, the superior caring staff at The John Clarke Nursing Center, the staff of the Newport Hospital and Wound Center as well as the Middletown Fire Department EMT; their care and support contributed greatly to her health and wellbeing allowing her to continue to live a long and happy life.
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