Obituaries : Roger G. Newton

Roger G. Newton, 79, of Urbana, Iowa, passed away Friday, June 2, 2023, ProMedica Senior Care in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 16, 2023, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Center Point, Iowa. Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17, 2023, at First Christian Church in Center Point. Burial: Urbana Memorial Cemetery, Center Point.

Roger was born June 13, 1943, in Urbana, Iowa, the son of Harold and Delores (Wendell) Newton. He graduated from Urbana High School. On Feb. 28, 1969, Roger married Nancy McElrath in Nashua, Iowa. He retired from Rockwell Collins in 2000 after 36 years. He then went on to work for the Center Point-Urbana School District for several years as a janitor where he enjoyed spending his days chatting with the kids and teachers. He loved to play cards, Pepper especially. And also spent a lot of time at his home-away-from-home, the The O-Zone, where he enjoyed socializing and drinking beer. He was very fun-loving and never met a stranger. Roger truly loved people and life. He also enjoyed his weekly coffee time with his friends and fellow church members. Church was a very important part of his life, and he rarely missed a Sunday service. Roger was a member of the First Christian Church in Center Point for many years where he served God and his fellow church members as well as the community. He was also a member of the Urbana Christian Church and the IBEW Union for several years.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Mae Newton; daughter, Tammy Renee Hendryx (Scott); granddaughter, Carly Mae Hendryx; sister, Sharon McElrath; sister-in-law, Janice Hainey; nieces, Deb Vogt (Brian), Kim Pribyl (Steve); nephews, Jerry McElrath (Christina), Brian Schlimmer, Jim Tessman (Karen); great-nephews, Mitch Harrison (Jenna), Gordy Harrison (Kaila), Matt McElrath (Kristen), Jarret (Maddie); and several great-great-nieces and -nephews.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law, Bob McElrath and Jessie Lint; sisters-in-law, Joyce Lint and Susan Michel; and nephews, Mark Harrison, Rick Schlimmer, Rob Schlimmer and Larry (Poke) Michel.

We would like to thank all the wonderful care staff at Harmony Cedar Rapids and Gentiva Hospice for providing such great care and support for Roger during his stay and especially in his final days. We also want to extend a special thank you to all those who took the time to visit him while he was in the nursing home. He truly appreciated it as it helped to make his days brighter.

A memorial fund has been established and will be distributed to the causes that Roger was most passionate about.

Please share a memory of Roger at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.