VICTORVILLE, Calif. - Theodore Rudolph Saari, age 62, passed away April 12, 2012, surrounded by his loved ones in Victorville.
He was born October 12, 1949, in Ontonagon to Theodore "Rudy" Rudolph and Mary Katherine (Johnston) Saari. Ted was a 1967 graduate of the Ontonagon High School.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and attended the U.S. Naval Academy from 1967 to 1971, earned a BS degree in engineering from CalState Polytechnic University in Pomona, Calif. and a BA degree from Ambassador College.
He married Margaret Ryan in 1980 and they raised two children together.
He had 27 years of public service with the State of California, retiring in 2004.
Though his health was declining rapidly, he was able to hold his first grandchild and speak to his daughter and to his son, who was serving in Afghanistan.
Ted was well-known as a kind, gentle and honorable man of deep faith. He will be missed by all.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; son, Daniel Saarinen; daughter, Sharon Saarinen Jones; grandson, Rudy Jones; sisters, Vicky (Ron) Burdick of Ontonagon, Mary Kay Fiszer of Rhinelander, Wis. and Ginger Saari of Hancock; a brother, David (Penny) Saari of Ontonagon.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Guy.
Funeral services for Ted will be held Sunday, April 29, at 1 p.m. PDT in the High Desert Funeral Chapel, 16545 Bear Valley Road, Hesperia, CA 92345.