John L Savela

John L. Savela, age 69, passed away on February 4, 2024 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. John “Johnny” was born October 18, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest child of Erwin and Theresa Savela.

John graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1976 and from the Keller Graduate School of Management in 1999 with his MBA. After working for many years as a CPA, he retired and escaped the Chicago winters to sunny Sarasota where he enjoyed the warm weather and beautiful beaches with his friends. John never missed an opportunity to tease family back home on the most frigid and snowy Chicago days about how beautiful the weather was in Sarasota. He enjoyed the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears and spending time with his Florida friends, especially their large holiday gatherings.

John is survived by his sister, Mary Viol; nieces Laura Beres, Doreen Wiman and Susan Hanburger; great niece, Alexandra Beres; great nephews, Connor Beres, John Wiman and Michael Wiman; his fur babies, Spike and Clancy and countless friends who will miss him dearly.

He was predeceased by his parents, Erwin and Theresa Savela.

The family wishes to thank Sarasota Memorial Hospital ICU nurses for their caring and kindness and his friends Chris and Barb Rasmussen who cared for him and his puppies daily during his illness.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church – 5394 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota on Friday, February 23rd at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests a donation be made in John’s name to The Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch 26920 Gopher Hill Road in Myakka City, Florida 34251.