Scottsbluff Star Hearld Scottsbluff, NE 27 Jan 2007 Melvin "Mel" Leroy Sauer, 67, of Gering, died Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007, at his home. At his request, cremation was at the Jolliffe Funeral Home Crematory in Scottsbluff. His Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 26 ,at the Faith United Church of Christ in Bayard with Pastor Alice Shriver officiating. In lieu of flowers, Memorials in Mel's name may be made to the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, P.O.B. 104, Scottsbluff, NE. 69361-0104 or to his family. Jolliffe Funeral Home at Scottsbluff is in charge of the arrangements. His obituary may be viewed at www.jolliffefuneralhome.com, where condolences may be left and they will be forwarded to his family. Mel was born July 11, 1939, in Bayard, Neb., the son of Fred and Mary (Engleman) Sauer. He attended the School for the Visually Impaired at Nebraska City from 1947 to 1956. He then attended the Bayard High School where he graduated with the Class of 1958. He attended the Scottsbluff Junior College and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He was united in marriage to Lupe Ybarra, Feb. 23, 1963, in Scottsbluff and to this union daughters Melanie and Monica and son Michael were born. Mel's fascination with radio began at an early age after receiving a radio from Grandma Sauer. From that point on, radio was his life. His radio career began in September 1960 at KIMB in Kimball, 1961 to 1985 at KOLT at Scottsbluff, 1985 at KOBH at Hot Springs, S.D., 1986 at KCSR at Chadron, 1986 to 1989 at KOAQ at Scottsbluff and from 1989 to 2006 at KPNY at Scottsbluff. Sports and weather were his areas of expertise. We'll remember him as the "night disc jockey" and his "teen beat," "march around the kitchen table," "Sauer's Sweet Music," and the reference to his hometown as "Hometown USA." The one thing that changed his radio was receiving one of the first Braille Teletype printer to be used in the electronic news media. He was a member of the Kiwanis and Lions Club, serving as President. He received awards of recognition for his contribution to the community such as being awarded as a member of the Nebraska Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He often stated that he didn't need to be rewarded for doing a job he loved. Until his death, he remained an avid fan of the Denver Broncos, men and women's Cougar and Cornhusker teams and all the valley sports teams. Mel is survived by his daughters, Melanie (Robert) Evans of Depew, N.Y., Monica Buchholz of Lancaster, N.Y.; son, Michael of Derby, N.Y.; grandson, Tyler Holcomb of Lancaster, N.Y.; brothers, Clarence (Jeri) of Yutan, Neb., Lemoyne (Patty) of Bayard, Robert (Linda) of Maple Heights, Ohio; sisters, Cheryl (Don) Parsons of Ft. Calhoun, Neb., Marilyn "Deanie" Axt and Nancy (Leroy) Eichthaler all of Bridgeport, numerous nieces and nephews and special friend Mary St. Onge of Scottsbluff. Mel was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. Mel's final sign off would be-"It's been a Sauer Production."