Detlef Sauer

Detlef Peter Paul Sauer, 73, of Miami Springs, FL., born June 29, 1949, in Schweinfurt,
Germany passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

The family will receive friends and family at the Vista Memorial Funeral Home on
Thursday, May 11, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held on
Friday, May 12, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church located at 4020
Curtiss Pkwy, Miami Springs, FL 33166, following with a funeral reception at the Miami
Springs Golf & Country Club located at 650 Curtiss Pkwy, Miami Springs, FL 33166.

He is survived by one son and two daughters, Charles Sauer and Carolina Sauer of
Miami Springs, FL., Catharina Sauer-Fields (John) of Santa Rosa Beach, FL., his
life-long partner Gunhild Erika Grosse Streine of Warendorf, Germany, former wife and
mother of his children,Yolanda Sauer of Miami Springs, FL. and former wife, Doris

Sauer of Miami Springs, FL.; nine grandchildren, Lucas Sauer, Charlotte Sauer, Olivia
Sauer, Siena Sauer, Crysta Fields, Tommy Fields, John C. Fields, June Fields, and
Joshua Fields.

He is also survived by a sister Waltraud Schneider (Erich) of Germany, two brothers
Gerhard Sauer of Texas, and Herbert Sauer of Florida. Sisters-in-law Brigitte Sauer of
Germany and Marjorie Sauer of Florida, along with numerous nieces and nephews and
their families scattered throughout the United States and Europe.

He is predeceased in death by his mother and stepfather Charles and Barbara Burke,
father Valentin Sauer, brothers Emil, Jacob, Berthold, and Wolfgang Sauer, sister Else
Roswitha and brother-in-law George Robert Carter.
In 1973 he was a pilot with the United States Air Force in San Antonio, TX, flying C130's
and F18 Fighter Jets. He then moved to Mcallen, TX and flew for the United States
Postal Service. Shortly thereafter, he was hired by a banker in Austin, Texas as a
private jet pilot. From 1976-1979 he lived in Saudi Arabia and was hired by Aramco as a
private pilot for Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Former Minister of Petroleum and Mineral
Resources of Saudi Arabia. In addition, he flew geologists and engineers all around the
world. In March of 1979 he was hired by Eastern Airlines and moved to Miami, FL
where he worked with Eastern until 1991. After Eastern, he began working for Haiti
Trans Air; then, privately for the Prince of Lagos, Nigeria. In addition, he flew for
ValueJet and Pan American Airways. In 1997, Atlas Air hired him as a captain.
Throughout his career at Atlas, he dedicated his free time to being a flight simulator
instructor training and inspiring hundreds of airline pilots. In addition, he invested in real
estate properties throughout South Florida. His favorite building to visit was " The
River"; which sat on the Miami River. He enjoyed operating, managing, and doing all the
"housekeeping" for his properties. After 17 years with Atlas, he then retired. He
successfully fulfilled his dream as a pilot for a total of 46 years operating multiple
aircrafts, but his favorites were the Boeing 747 and the Boeing 747 Dreamlifter.
He would always say, "anything in this life is possible if you set your mind to do it". He
enjoyed his life to the fullest and shared his endless energy, spirit, and optimism with
the people around him. He lived intensely, and worked hard to make the life for the
people he loved easier than his own. And at the same time, he was able to live and
enjoy the moment; even with small things. He would always remind his life-long partner
to "hang on a second and smell the roses". He wanted his loved ones to enjoy what a

single day could offer them if they just took a second to slow down and value the
moment in front of their eyes– like watching the sunset from his cockpit or his backyard.
A parting thought he would want everyone to know,
Do not stand
By my grave, and weep,
I am not there,
I do not sleep--
I am the thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints in snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle, autumn rain.
As you awake with morning's hush,
I am the swift, up-flinging rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the day transcending night.
Do not stand
By my grave, and cry--
I am not there,
I did not die.