Friends and family of a man killed in a Mercy Flight helicopter crash last Tuesday are set to say their final goodbyes Monday.

James Sauer, 60, died when a helicopter he was riding in went down in Elba, Genesee County. All week, people who knew him have been sharing their stories.

Hank Graf met Sauer six years ago when the Sauer family joined the Open Door Baptist Church. The two quickly became friends.

“Right away, we just had this bond,” said Graf. "I guess what hit me most with him was for a man that has so many accomplishments, he has many great things. He was the most humble man.”

Graf said he first heard the news of the crash on the radio and drove over to Sauer’s house, thinking the crash would involve someone he knew.

“Right away I started praying, thinking of Jim,” said Graf. “When I heard it was a Mercy Flight helicopter, I had talked to him on Sunday and he said he was supposed to be off Tuesday during the day. I went to his house to comfort him thinking it’s going to be someone he knew. When I got to his house and his brother met me in the driveway, I knew it was not good.”

Sauer was a former member of the New York State Police, New York Army National Guard and Rochester Police Department.

Even in his retirement, Graf said all Sauer wanted to do was help others.

“I just want to be able to serve people,” Graf said. “Now that I’m retired I want to be able to reach people and give them hope. I told his wife the other night that he is reaching thousands right now.”

When asked what Sauer would think of the support and well wishes from the community, Graf said he thinks he would be embarrassed with all the fuss, but would love seeing all the people he touched together under one roof.

“If the world could be filled of more Jim Sauers, it’d be a much better place,” said Graf.

Sauer is set to be laid to rest in Churchville on Monday.

Mercy Flight says Sauer’s family is inviting any members of the public who want to pay their final respects to stand along the route of the funeral procession.

He will receive a full police escort leaving Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home in Hilton at 11:45 a.m. They’ll proceed to the Open Door Baptist Church on Scottsville-Chili Road.

Services will be live-streamed there at 1 p.m.