John Michael Sams' Obituary
John “Jack” Michael Sams passed away peacefully at 11:51 a.m. on Wednesday, November 24,
2021 with family by his side. Jack was born on Saturday, November 20, 1937 in Centreville,
Illinois to Shelbourne and Gertrude (Dauer) Sams. He was welcomed by his siblings Fay, Jim,
David and Bob. Four years later, his sister, Carolyn was born and completed their family.
Jack often shared stories about spending time with family in Illinois and Kentucky as a young
boy. Sadly, Jack’s dad passed away when he was seven years old. His mother supplemented
the pension that she received from the railroad where Shelbourne had worked by doing
laundry for neighbors.
He graduated from Cahokia High School in Cahokia, Illinois in 1956. His first job was working
for a printing company.
In 1957, he began working for Cargill, Incorporated. He was offered a promotion with the
company in 1965, which prompted a move to Sacramento, California where he was the Branch
Accountant for the company at the Port of Sacramento. It was while working there that he
interviewed a beautiful woman, Karma Swanson (nee Geyer) for another department. He was
very smitten and eventually asked her out on a date. Their first date was at Yosemite National
Park with her daughter, Lisa. Soon after that date, Jack proposed to her after they saw the
movie The Sound of Music. They were married on July 22, 1967.
While living in West Sacramento, they welcomed their first child together, daughter Judith, in
1969. Soon after moving to Omaha, Nebraska, their family was completed with the birth of
their son, Roland in 1971. The family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1975 when Jack’s
job transferred him there.
When Karma’s mother passed away in 1976, Jack requested a transfer back to Sacramento to
be closer to her family.
The family moved into what is the current family home in Elverta, California in 1977. They
began attending Calvary Lutheran Church in Rio Linda, California, which was the church that
Jack attended until his passing. In addition to being a past president of the congregation, he
also served on several committees, and often assisted as an usher.
Jack retired from Cargill in 1992 after 35 years of service. He enjoyed spending time working
in the yard, puttering in his barn and doing constant projects around the house. He also
became the main cook for the family meals.
Judy promoted him to the title of Grandpa in March 2000. He was a natural and his five
grandchildren loved him and his crazy sense of humor. (Ask them about his infamous Birthday
Song).
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Fay, Jim, David and Bob, his loving wife
of 51 years, Karma, and his son, Roland. Those surviving him are his son, Greg Rodewald of
Alton, IL, his daughters, Lisa (Doug Juarez) Swanson of Sacramento and Judith Lucchesi of
Elverta; grandchildren Matthew, Christopher and Nicholas Lucchesi of Elverta, and Sophia and
Kristian Chavez of Sacramento; his sister Carolyn (Wayne) Bryant of Belleville, Illinois, as well
as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and loving friends.
A viewing will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, December 17, 2021 at Calvary Lutheran Church,
515 L Street, Rio Linda, CA 95673. The funeral service will begin at the church at 10:00 a.m. on
the same day. A graveside service will immediately follow at Sunset Lawn, 4701 Marysville
Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95838.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Jack Sams Memorial Fund at Calvary
Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 310, Rio Linda, CA 95673.
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