Jose Daniel Sauvageau

After almost three years of struggling with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma Jose Daniel Sauvageau slipped from this world into the next in the early morning hours of September 9, 2016.

Jose's parents, Mary Bjerke and Daniel Sauvageau, brought Jose home in August, 1997 from Guatemala City, Guatemala. Jose was their precious Christmas gift, born December 25, 1996 and he carried the spirit of Christmas, his favorite holiday, with him throughout his life. If Jose had his way Christmas music would be played year round.

Jose was an ardent fan of the Power Rangers, emulating his favorite one, the Red Ranger. He was active in Cass County Special Olympics where he participated in basketball, bowling and track and field events and played baseball in the Challengers Baseball League. He was fun to travel with because he was interested in everything and everyone, especially if it involved a train or plane. He spent endless hours with his Legos, creating displays of every place he visited, including the radiology department where he received treatment. Jose was thrilled with life.

Jose was preceded in death by his cherished grandmother, Dorothy Bjerke and uncle, David Blehm and his good friend, Flash (our Bassett Hound). Jose never met his maternal grandfather Orvis Bjerke, who died a month after Jose was born or his paternal grandparents, Eugene and Anita Sauvageau, who passed away years before he was born.

He is survived by uncles and aunts, Julie Blehm, Rebecca (John) Mason, Beth (Bill) Remington, Carol Bjerke, Michel Sauvageau, Monique Allaire, Jaqueline (Serge) Swanson and many cousins.

Special thanks to his doctors and nurses at the Roger Maris Cancer Center, Hospice of the Red River Valley and Sanford Children's Hospital nurses and staff, his team at Community Living Services, his Special Olympics family and his teachers, paras and friends throughout the years at Longfellow, Ben Franklin and North High. Jose’s life has been rich and full because of you.

Interment will be at a later date at St. John Cemetery, Hatton, where his maternal Grandparents and Uncle rest.