Paul Thomas Sauber was born September 23, 1920 at St. Joseph Hospital, Deer Lodge, Montana and died July 9, 2018 Bellevue, WA; son of the late Bernard and Lena (Hollenback) Sauber, beloved husband of Frances (Jacobs); father of Shirley Sauber; Thomas (Raquel); Bernard (Carroll); Kenneth (Lois); Phillip (Elaine); Charles (Nancy); devoted brother of Madalen Sugrue; grandfather to 12; great-grandfather to 13. He was preceded in death by brothers Gregory, Joseph, Louis and Edwin. Paul was initiated into Knights of Columbus on January 1, 1939.
He had 79 years as a life member. Belonged to Deer Lodge Montana Council 1810. Paul attended The Gold Creek School, a one-room schoolhouse in Gold Creek, Montana and Gonzaga High School, Spokane, WA (as a boarding student).
In 1944 he graduated from Gonzaga University with a BS in Electrical Engineering and immediately took a job with Boeing as an electrical engineer, earning $167. 80 a month. On May 22, 1944 he married Frances, who he met on a blind date while she was attending Sacred Heart Nursing School in Spokane.
He always referred to Frances as his “sweetheart nurse” and was proud of their 74 years together. Paul designed and patented a miniature device for airplane wind tunnel tests that is still used today by doctors to measure symptoms of Parkinson’s. He built a facility at Boeing to stop airplane wing flaps from coming apart on the first test flight of the B52 bomber.
He tested the flaps for the Bell X-1 rocket plane that Chuck Yeager flew to break the sound barrier in 1947. He worked with famous German rocket scientist Werner von Braun to launch the Apollo spacecrafts to the moon, managed the launch team for the Apollo Saturn V rockets and a team of 150 engineers at Cape Kennedy, Florida who assembled and launched the Apollo rocket ships. He shook President Nixon’s hand after the launch of Apollo 12.
He retired from Boeing in 1982. More important to Paul than work was his family, his Catholic faith and volunteering. He volunteered with many organizations throughout his life, including the Boy Scouts, The Diocese of Seattle, Catholic Charities and The Giving Tree.
He delivered meals for the Bellevue Food Bank well into his 90s, when he himself had trouble getting around. Paul was a skilled woodworker. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren fondly remember the many toys and puzzles handmade for them by their grandfather.
In retirement, Paul and Frances traveled the country in their motorhome, spending time fishing and visiting family. They took many of their grandchildren on trips across the United States, visiting his hometown of Gold Creek, the National Parks, and many other landmarks. Paul loved working in the woodshop he built in his basement of his Bellevue home.
Paul never met a stranger and easily made friends with people from all walks of life. In his later years, he enjoyed visits from his sister, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His children and grandchildren describe him as curious, friendly, a lifelong learner, a master craftsman, an eager storyteller, and a devout Catholic.
Paul could solve any problem, build or fix anything, and always find adventure. Please join the family as they celebrate Paul’s life on Wed, July 18, 2018 at St Louise Catholic Church Bellevue, WA. His rosary will begin at 10:15am and his mass will begin at 11am.
Following the reception, friends are invited to the burial service at 2pm at Sunset Hills Memorial Park. Donations in Paul’s memory can be made to the Bellevue Food Bank: www. hopelink.org/donatee or by calling 425-952-3062.
Friends are also invited to share memories, view photos and sign the family’s on-line guestbook at www. flintofts.com. Arrangements by Flintoft’s Funeral Home 425-392-6444.
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