William "Bill" Sawyer

William “Bill” Sawyer, 72 of Elkhart went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Bill was born on August 25,1951 in Elkhart to Maurice and Laurance Maude Sawyer.  He married Shirley Smith on September 2, 1972 at Wyndgate Baptist Church in Elkhart.

Bill worked for over 43 years at Elkhart Water Works and retired on December 6, 2016. He was a passionate coach of many different sports, but his greatest love was the game of softball. Over the past four decades he had the privilege of coaching several players with many championship teams. He never missed an opportunity to make someone smile with his unique sense of humor. Bill had a compassionate heart and was an avid dog adorer. He and his wife are long time members of New Life Church in Osceola. His family is grateful for his saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Bill was a faithful husband to his wife Shirley for over 51 years, a loving father to his children Lori (David) Arisman of Elkhart, IN and Pastor Michael (Shana) Sawyer of Kokomo, IN, loving grandfather to Aylah, Grace, Caleb, Brinley and Skyley; loving brother to his sisters Karen (Charles) Andrews of Raleigh, NC and Gwen Turk of Elkhart, IN.  Bill was preceded in death by his parents Maurice and Laurance Sawyer and his brother-in-law John Turk.

Visitation will be from 4-7 pm on Thursday, November 30,2023 at New Life Church, 11593 McKinley Hwy, Osceola, IN 46561 where funeral services will be at 7pm. Pastor Mike Cramer and Pastor Michael Sawyer will officiate. Graveside services will be held at 10 am on Friday, December 1, 2023 at Rice Cemetery in Elkhart. Memorial donations in Bill’s memory may be made to New Life Church at www.nlpositivefaith.com Online condolences may be made to the Sawyer family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514 is assisting the Sawyer family.