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Jack A. Saari Obituary – 1/3/2013


Jacob (Jack) Adler Saari, age 74, of Marcell, MN and a long-time former Annandale resident, passed away peacefully with his family at his side Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at Cox Medical Center, Springfield, MO, after a long courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

He was born June 13, 1938, at home in rural Annandale, the fifth of six children born to Henry and Hilda (Lily) Saari. Jack grew up on the family farm and was baptized and confirmed in the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church.

He attended Murback Country School, rural Annandale. In the seventh grade, he moved to Minneapolis with his family, where his father had obtained employment. He attended Lincoln Junior and North Senior high schools. Jack furthered his education at Dunwoody Institute and Minneapolis Vocational School, learning the machinist and tool and die trades.

In 1959, he joined the Army, trained at Fort Lewis, WA, and served a year in Korea. While serving stateside, he was a rifle marksman specialist and was a member of the US Army Rifle Team. He was discharged in 1961, with the rank of E4.

Jack married Muriel Dahlman of Dassel April 4, 1964, at Stockholm Lutheran Church, rural Cokato. They were blessed with three children: Seth, Thomas, and Andrea; and four grandchildren: Trevor, Jacob, Lucas, and Hannah Saari.

Jack and Muriel lived in Minneapolis after their marriage and that same year, moved to Annandale, where they resided until 2002, when they moved to their farm near South Haven.In 2005, after retirement, they moved to their lake retreat on Turtle lake near Marcell, MN, where they spent some enjoyable years.

Jack worked for 24 years at Pako Corporation in Minneapolis as a machinist and tool and die maker. In 1987, the company closed down and Jack opened his own machine shop at home, while also farming with his son, Seth.

Jack was a kind man who loved his family. His favorite pastimes were fishing and hunting. He traveled to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Korea, Japan, Sweden, Norway, and Finland, the birthplace of his grandparents.

He was proceeded in death by his parents; and brothers and sisters, Bette, Arleen, Kenneth, and Bob.

Jack is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Muriel; children Andrea of Big Sky, MT, Seth (Bobbi) of Hartville, MO, and Thomas (Carla) of Corona, CA; a sister, Judith Strolberg of Cokato; and his four grandchildren.

There was a private family service in Hartville, MO, and memorial services will also take place next spring at Marcell Community Church at Marcell, MN.

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