Arthur Erwin Sage, 89, of Adrian, Missouri died Sunday, November 17, 2013 at the family home in rural Adrian, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2013 at the Fairview Baptist Church in Ballard, Missouri, with burial in Cloud Cemetery, Ballard. Visitation 6:30-8:00 p.m. Friday, November 22, 2013 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to Kamp Keirsey or Heartland Hospice.

Arthur was one of seven children: six boys and every one of them had a sister. He was born in Kansas City, Mo. on November 7, 1924, to George Verdier and Susan Amanda (Browning) Sage. At the age of 5 his family moved to rural Adrian. He grew up attending Edwards school, in the Ballard area, where he skipped the 2nd grade because there was no one else in his grade. He attended Ballard High School, graduating at 17 in 1942. He often talked about hunting and trapping rabbits and opossum on the way to and from school which was up hill both ways. He tried to enlist in the Navy to be a fighter pilot but was rejected because of a spot on his lung. He moved to Arizona where he worked as a cowboy and truck driver in the mountains. In 1943 he was drafted into the U. S. Navy where he served as a machinist in the engine room of a survey ship. He saw action in the South Pacific and China. After completing his military duty he returned to Adrian where he and his brothers owned and operated a filling station and garage. In 1946 he took a road trip to Florida with his brothers where he met the love of his life, Rolla Jolene Dille. He married her in her grandparent's parlor in Pennsylvania on September 30, 1947.

He was always curious about how things worked or operated. If he wanted to know something he educated himself through reading or correspondence. He went to machinist school in Topeka, KS and an electronics class in radio and TV repair. He was on the leading edge of technology for his day. He had one of the first TV's. He spent the next 12 years building houses, roads, bridges, and churches from Pennsylvania through Illinois then back to Ohio. By this time he had five children, Glenn, Harold, Marian, Beth and Edi.

In 1961 the family moved to Appleton City where he worked on the minute man missile silos. In 1964 the family moved to Adrian and Arthur continued his career of building and setting machines in factory's elevators, and power generating plants. The late 60's found him building bridges and culverts on US71 from Belton to Harrisonville. To mark his work, he placed a new penny in the completed concrete. The 70's and 80's found him returning to the skills the Navy taught him in the boiler room of ships. With these skills he worked on all of the power plants within driving distance. Baby Rachel was born in 1971. The early 80's, he began work on the third home he would build for his family. His dream home made out of concrete and covered with 4 ft of dirt. He even made the bed frame out of concrete so Mom could not rearrange the furniture.

He loved his family and enjoyed annual camp outs, picnics and Memorial Day extended family reunions. He was always proud of his grandchildren and their accomplishments.

In the 1980's Arthur completed his travels and returned to the place of his youth. He enjoyed retirement in his dream home, sitting in his porch swing, looking over the valley. Arthur worked tirelessly on his projects, spending many hours in planning, acquiring materials, and assembling them. He was proud of his many inventions especially the elevator in his house.

There was nothing greater in his life than the love of God. At an early age he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior at the Fairview Baptist Church. Every time he moved he would look for some place to worship God, whether it be outside, a store basement, a school, a house, or a church. He was always looking for a group of believers to share and grow with. In the late 50's he was ordained a Southern Baptist deacon at the Whiethall Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio. He read and studied God's word faithfully. He was a ready hand at teaching and preaching at every opportunity.

Arthur was preceded in death by his parents, George Verdier Sage and Susan Amanda, his brothers Lawrence Parker Sage, Lloyd Herbert Sage, Dwight Leishman Sage, a daughter Marian Ann Sage Perryman and one Great granddaughter, Kassandra Victoria Milton. He is survived by his wife (Corky a name Arthur gave her) Rolla Jolene Sage. His siblings Margaret Logan of Illinois, John Sage of Kentucky, and David Sage of KCMO. His children Glenn Verdier Sage of Ballard, Harold James Sage (Ruth) of Appleton City MO, Bethany Elizabeth Argabright (Alan) of Archie, MO, Edith Lynn Arnold (Chester) of Dayton MO, Rachel Lydia Gregory (Nathan) of Adrian, MO. 15 grandkids, and forty three great grandkids.