Michael P. Newman

Michael Patrick Newman (Mike), 71, of Clarion, passed away on August 4, 2019, at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, surrounded by his family.

Memorial services for Michael Newman will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, with Father Jerry Blake officiating. Burial will be held at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Clarion.

A Rosary and Scriptural Wake service will begin at 4:15 PM on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, with a memorial visitation to follow until 7:00 PM, at Ewing Funeral Home in Clarion.

Mike was born on May 1, 1948, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the youngest of Wilbur and Leona Newman’s four children. Mike’s childhood was spent in Manitowoc. After graduation, he proudly served his country in the United States Air Force as an Egress System Repairman Technician. His time in the service and his status as a veteran were a point of pride throughout his life.

Mike later moved to Iowa, where he fell in love with Karen the first time he saw her in the fabric store which she owned with her sister. He proposed soon after and they were married on October 24, 1981. They raised three daughters together, welcomed seven grandchildren into their family, and were anticipating an eighth. He loved playing with and reading to his grandchildren, who affectionately called him PopPop. Mike and Karen enjoyed almost 38 years together filled with activities they love, including trips to the lake, dinner theaters, riverboat rides, and vacationing in Branson.

The majority of Mike’s career was spent driving semis. He loved time on the road and rising before dawn to watch the sun rise through the windshield of his truck. His children even got a taste of his time on the road, as most family road trips included eating at least one meal at a truck stop. Even after he retired in 2013, he returned to driving for many summers.

Mike made the most of his retirement years, filling his days with home projects, gardening, fishing, and cooking. In recent years, Mike took up the hobby of smoking meat and enjoyed perfecting his smoked ribs, much to the delight of the family and friends with whom he loved to share them. If he wasn’t doing one of those activities, you could probably find him in his chair, with a giant can of cashews, watching reruns of M*A*S*H, playing solitaire, or reading on his Kindle Fire.

Mike was an active member of the local VFW, participating in community events such as the fish fry’s, chili suppers, and Memorial Day services. He was especially honored to recognize fellow veterans by serving in the firing squad at military funerals.

Mike will be dearly missed by all those who loved him, and his family will forever cherish these and many more memories of him.

Mike is survived by his wife, Karen of Clarion; children Laurel (Ryan) Kelch of Ames, Alisa (Marcus) Rusch of Le Claire, and Hillary (Josh) Gimer of Moorland; grandchildren Ashlyn Gimer, Ryleigh Gimer, Zachary Rusch, Lydia Rusch, Octavia Gimer, Camden Kelch, and Sylvie Rusch; and brother James (Lucy) Newman, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents Wilbur and Leona, and sisters Bernice (Roman) Schneider and Arlette Goessl.