Ira Savage

Ira Lee Savage, age 68 of Santaquin, passed away December 6, 2016 from the horrible effects of Agent Orange, a side effect that many Vietnam Veterans suffered.  He was born October 30, 1948 in Cedar City, Utah to Howard Moroni and Louise DeMille Savage.  He was raised and attended school in Cedar City.  Upon graduating from college he married RaNae Matheson and they had three children, Tamera, Colton and Scott.  They later divorced but remained friends.

Lee served two years in Vietnam with the 1st Infantry Division and the 101st Airborne where he was wounded in action and decorated.  Upon his release from military service he worked for Utah International as a truck driver until the closing of the iron mines.  He then worked for WW Clyde, again driving truck all over Utah building highways, a job enjoyed very much.  He also worked on the Jordanelle Dam.  The last six years as a transport driver, he often said some of his loads weighed 275,000 pounds.  During this time he married C. Geniel Shaw.  They later divorced and also remained good friends.

In 1988 he joined the Santaquin Fire Department where he was awarded Firefighter of the Year in 2007.  In 1991 he joined the Santaquin Ambulance Association and became an EMT.  He dedicated his life to the Fire and EMS service.  He served in many capacities including training officer and engineer in the Fire Dept.  In the EMS he was also a training officer, instructor and past president.  In 2008 the Utah Association of EMT’s presented Lee with the John Henrie award as State EMT of the year.  He eventually had to give up active service because of his health.  Lee was well known across the state as a Firefighter and EMT.

He is survived by his fiancé, Catherine Holman; his children, Tamera Miller, Vancouver, Washington, Colton Savage, Wasilla, Alaska and Scott (Keelie)Savage, Lovell, Wyoming; 7 grandchildren; 3 brothers, Mike, Paul and Jon and a sister, Wilma, all of Cedar City; and Catherine’s kids and grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 12th at 1:00 pm at the Santaquin LDS Stake Center, 45 South 500 West, where friends may call from 11:00 to 12:45 prior to services.  Interment, Santaquin Cemetery with Fire and Military Rites by Santaquin Fire Department and Santaquin American Legion, Post #84.