Joseph Lawrence Sauer

On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Joseph Lawrence Sauer suddenly passed away. He was the beloved son of the late John G. “Jack” Sauer and Catherine G. “Kitty” Sauer; dear brother of Mary Elizabeth Coker and her husband Ed and John Conlon Sauer; uncle of Lindsay, Jaime, Griffin, Emma and great uncle of Scarlet and Hunter. Joe is also survived by other loving family and friends.

If there was one thing you could always count on, it was Joe’s unwavering devotion to sports, especially soccer and specifically Arsenal FC. A passionate fan, he never missed a World Cup and was always ready to cheer on his favorite Arsenal players as they represented their national teams. His love of sports began in his younger years when he played rugby alongside his brother John for BACON Rugby, the Baltimore County Rugby Football Club.

Joe’s love of soccer even took him across the pond to Italy to catch matches, with adventures in Germany and France along the way. He also loved a weekend trip to New York City, sometimes with his sister Mary, where he could happily spend his time enjoying great meals, exploring museums, checking out boutique hotels, and admiring fine art. His appreciation for art went beyond simply looking, as he even acquired a few pieces from his friend David, a local Baltimore artist.

Professionally, he made his living in finance as a market demand forecaster for companies including Coke and Pepsi, a career that occasionally had an unexpected influence on the family grocery list. Depending on who was signing his paycheck, the household soda of choice would change accordingly! When it came to food, Joe was a man of simple but excellent taste, with bacon cheeseburgers and Italian food ranking among his favorites. He loved Little Italy in downtown Baltimore and occasionally volunteered to make ravioli at the Italian Festival, combining his appreciation for good food with a chance to be part of the community.

Music was another constant in his life, and his tastes ranged from The Clash and The Eagles to Old 97's, R.E.M., and House of Freaks. Joe especially enjoyed catching local bands at the 8x10, always happy to support the local music scene. And then there was Seinfeld. A devoted fan, he and his brother could often be found quoting the show back and forth, speaking fluent Seinfeld in a way that probably made perfect sense to them but left everyone else wondering what the heck they were talking about!

But beneath all his passions, interests, and wonderfully unique quirks was a man whose heart belonged to his family. He loved them so much that he even became “ordained” online, allowing him to officiate the weddings of his nieces and a nephew. It was just one more way he found to be part of their lives and make their special moments even more meaningful. Whether Joe was cheering for Arsenal, debating the merits of a good bacon cheeseburger, discovering a new piece of art, enjoying live music, or sharing another round of Seinfeld quotes with his brother, he brought his own personality to everything he loved. He leaves behind a lifetime of stories, laughter, and memories that will be treasured by his family and friends for years to come.

The family will receive friends in the Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley, Inc. 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, MD 21093 on Thursday, October 29th from 2-4 & 6-8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, 200 Ware Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 on Friday, October 30th at 10am. Interment to follow at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

Flowers or memorial donations to the American Heart Association are welcome but entirely optional. For those who wish to make a donation please visit http://www.heart.org