The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Henry Sauer, 91, of Upper Arlington, passed away peacefully on Christmas morning. He was born on August 23,1930, in Dayton, Ohio, the oldest son of the late Kenneth and Katherine (Woodward) Sauer. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church. He graduated from Fairview High School in Dayton in 1948, Wittenberg University in 1952 where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, and Hamma School of Theology in 1955. He was ordained by the Ohio Synod of the Lutheran Church in America in 1955 and called to develop a congregation in Akron, Ohio. Faith Lutheran Church was organized in 1955, and he served as their pastor until he was elected president of the Ohio Synod in 1973 and then bishop of the Southern Ohio Synod in 1987. He received the Doctor of Ministry degree from Vanderbilt University in 1967, and the Doctor of Divinity degree from Wittenberg University in 1974. During his tenure as bishop, he was instrumental in the formation of Trinity Lutheran Seminary and the creation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He traveled extensively to meet with other ecumenical leaders including the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church. He served two terms on the Executive Council of the Lutheran Church in America and was chair of the Conference of Bishops of the ELGA from 1992-1996. He was President of the Ohio Council of Churches from 1991-1993. He wrote and lectured frequently about Church history and Lutheran Unity. He retired in 1996. In retirement he served as Interim Pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Worthington, Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley, and David Lutheran Church in Canal Winchester. He was a 47-year member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Upper Arlington. He loved golfing with his brother-in-law, traveling, gardening, reading all genres of literature, and his family. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother John.

Memorials may be given to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and the Kenneth H. Sauer Symposium at Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio.