Obituary of Russell R. Newell

Russell R. Newell, 84, of Columbus Junction, died Monday, October 10, 2005 at his home in Columbus Junction. Graveside services for Russell will be Saturday, October 15, 2005 at 10:30am at the Indian Creek Cemetery with full Military Rites by the Allen Wright Hanft American Legion Post #100. Rev. David Cone will officiate. Casketbearers will be Tom Lahl, Noel Newell, Brian Newell, Lyle Shellabarger, Steven A. Sents, Roger Hunt, Matthew Hunt, Tom McFarland and James Hafner. Visitation for Russell will be Friday, October 14th from 4-7:00pm at the Stacy-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services. Memorials may be directed to the Columbus Community Public Library, the Louisa County Historical Society or to the Columbus Community Heritage Center (former site of the Columbus Junction Public Library) in Russell's name. Online condolences may be left for the Newell family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com. Russell Robert Newell was born on August 23, 1921 in Louisa County, Iowa, the son of Hugh Robson and Sarah Matilda (Shellabarger) Newell. On December 10, 1946 he was united in marriage to Margaret Carper in Denver, Colorado. She preceded him in death on November 6, 1984. On April 21, 1990 Russell married Gloria Hafner in Benton, Arkansas. Lt. Colonel Russell Newell was a WWII veteran of the Army Air Corps, serving as a flight instructor and participating in the aerial mapping of Brazil. Russell was also a graduate of the University of Denver Law School and worked as an attorney in the Columbus Junction area for over 50 years. He was a member of the Columbus Community Club, the Louisa County Zoning Commission, the Board of Directors for the Colonial Manor Care Center of Columbus Junction and a founding member of the Louisa County Historical Society. He took an avid interest in purchasing farm ground in Louisa County and was an active supporter of the Democratic Party, serving as a local caucus representative at both the county and state levels. In his free time Russell enjoyed reading poetry, especially selections by Rudyard Kipling. Russell will be dearly missed by his wife, Gloria of Columbus Junction; his son, Michael R. Newell and his wife, Julie of Benton, Arkansas; his daughter, Sara L. Newell, M.D. and her husband, Reverend David Cone of Tulsa, Oklahoma; 4 granddaughters, Elizabeth, Alexandria, Christina and Margaret; 1 great granddaughter, Jade; and his sister, Marjorie Gerdts of Boise, Idaho. Russell was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Margaret; and 2 brothers, Herbert and Lewis Newell.