David C. Sauer, 80, of Summerfield, FL, and formerly of Rockford, IL, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2026, after a long illness.

David was born on August 2, 1946, in Rockford, IL, the only son and third child of Dr. and Mrs. F. E. Sauer. David spent his early life in Rockford, graduating from Boylan High School in 1964 and earning his MBA from Northern Illinois University in 1970.

David married Carol (née Sprada) on October 20, 1997, and together they shared 30 loving and happy years, traveling and seeing the world. He retired from Hamilton Sundstrand in 2005 after more than 25 years of dedicated service.

David is survived by his devoted wife, Carol; his children, Karen (Haris) Vilic, Mathew Sauer, and Stacey (Vincent) LaRosa; his stepdaughters, Deanna (Bryan) Sheffield and Vikki (Dan) Peters; his grandchildren, Nathan and Molly Sauer, Nadia and Natalie Vilic, Tyler Peters, Trevor Peters, Kamerin Spano, Benjamin Spano, and Emily, Harry, Jonathan, and Katherine Sheffield; his great-grandson, Marcus Spano; his sisters, Sandra Knapp and Linda Kustermann; and numerous nieces and nephews. David was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Erma Sauer; his sister, Susan Cerniglia; and his brother-in-law, Dale Knapp.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital, and especially Dr. Dz (Dziegielewski), for many years of kind and compassionate care. Arrangements entrusted with BALDWIN BROTHERS Funeral & Cremation Society-Spanish Springs, 352-430-1449. Sentiments are encouraged at www.baldwincremation.com.