John Leo Sawvel

John Leo Sawvel, 97, of Dover, Ohio died Saturday, February 20, 2010 in Union Hospital at Dover.

Leo retired in 1975 from Babcock Wilcox in Canton where he was employed as a Template maker for over twenty five years.

Born September 11, 1912 in New Rumley, Ohio, he was the son of the late Homer and Eva (McAfee) Sawvel.

Leo proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He attended the Grace Lutheran Church in Dover. Over the years, Leo had many interests having been an avid outdoorsman where he liked hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed golfing and bowling where he participated in several leagues. He was a coin collector and member of both the Tuscarawas County and Barnesville Coin Clubs. In his early years, he was an outstanding baseball pitcher and was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean (Groves) Sawvel who died in 1954 and his second wife, Hester E. (Gibbons) Sawvel who died in 1992; he was also preceded by two brothers, Charles and Dwight Sawvel and a sister, Ruth Sawvel.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine (Porter) Kneppelt Sawvel with whom he was married for twelve years; one daughter, Jane (husband, David) Daley of LaPorte, Indiana and a son, John (wife, Polly) Sawvel of Barnesville; a sister, Louise Dwyer of Enon, Ohio; two stepchildren Robert Kneppelt and Nancy Cox and their families and eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

A funeral service celebrating Leo's life will be held Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 1:30pm in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory at Dover with Rev. Leland Eilert officiating. Interment will be in the Ridgecrest Memory Gardens where the Dover VFW will conduct military graveside honors. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 12:30pm �" 1:30pm. Those unable to attend or who may wish to express a fond memory of Leo may sign the online register book by visiting the "obituaries" link on the funeral home website at www.tolandherzig.com

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Lutheran Church, 216 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, Ohio 44622, American Kidney Foundation, 6110 Executive Blvd. Suite 1010, Rockville, Maryland 20852 or one's favorite charity.

Toland-Herzig, Dover
330 343-6132