Beliefs > Churches > German Evangelical Congregational Brethren Church > Pastors > Rev. John N. Sauer
Rev. John N. Sauer
Rev. John N. Sauer followed seminary student Oliver Ketterling and served the Brethren Church from August 1951 to August 1963.
The Reverend Sauer was born on January 12, 1890, in Mannsburg, Bessarabia, Russia. He immigrated to Lind, Washington, with his family in 1901 aboard the steamship Lahn and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Before formally training as a pastor, Sauer served the Zoar Church in Odessa, Washington, and the Freudenfeld Church in Warden, Washington, in 1918. He then attended the Redfield Seminary and graduated in 1920, after which he served as a circuit-riding pastor in Burt, North Dakota. In 1925, Rev. Sauer moved to Idaho to serve congregations in Paul, Kimberly, Jerome, and American Falls until 1928. Before his service in Portland, Pastor Sauer also served churches in Brush, Colorado; Fresno, California; St. John's Church in La Crosse; and Colfax, Washington.
Rev. Sauer concluded 43 years in the ministry in August of 1963 after 12 years at the Brethren Church in Portland.
Rev. Sauer and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1971 at the Zion Brethren Church (a consolidation of the Brethren and Zion Congregational churches).
Rev. John N. Sauer died on September 2, 1984, in Los Gatos, California, at the age of 94. He was entombed at Portland Memorial Mausoleum after a memorial service at Rivercrest Congregational Community Church in Portland.
The Reverend Sauer was born on January 12, 1890, in Mannsburg, Bessarabia, Russia. He immigrated to Lind, Washington, with his family in 1901 aboard the steamship Lahn and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Before formally training as a pastor, Sauer served the Zoar Church in Odessa, Washington, and the Freudenfeld Church in Warden, Washington, in 1918. He then attended the Redfield Seminary and graduated in 1920, after which he served as a circuit-riding pastor in Burt, North Dakota. In 1925, Rev. Sauer moved to Idaho to serve congregations in Paul, Kimberly, Jerome, and American Falls until 1928. Before his service in Portland, Pastor Sauer also served churches in Brush, Colorado; Fresno, California; St. John's Church in La Crosse; and Colfax, Washington.
Rev. Sauer concluded 43 years in the ministry in August of 1963 after 12 years at the Brethren Church in Portland.
Rev. Sauer and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1971 at the Zion Brethren Church (a consolidation of the Brethren and Zion Congregational churches).
Rev. John N. Sauer died on September 2, 1984, in Los Gatos, California, at the age of 94. He was entombed at Portland Memorial Mausoleum after a memorial service at Rivercrest Congregational Community Church in Portland.
Sources
"Brief History of The Brethren Congregational Church." Evangelical Congregational Brethren Church. Trans. Joanne Krieger. Portland, OR: 2000. 1-6. Print.
Eisenach, George J. A History of the German Congregational Churches in the United States. Yankton, SD: Pioneer, 1938. 297. Print.
"Obituary - Rev. John N. Sauer." The Sunday Oregonian, September 9, 1984, p. D13.
Eisenach, George J. A History of the German Congregational Churches in the United States. Yankton, SD: Pioneer, 1938. 297. Print.
"Obituary - Rev. John N. Sauer." The Sunday Oregonian, September 9, 1984, p. D13.
Last updated October 7, 2025