Gary M. Newton, 82, of Pekin, passed away and went to be with the Lord at 4:46 a.m. on Monday, July 30, 2018 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
Born December 23, 1935 in the kitchen of his childhood home in Goreville to George Marion and Ethel (Thornton) Newton, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol J. Wade, on May 24, 1955 in Pekin. She survives.
Also surviving are one son, Curtis (Debi) Newton of Decatur; one daughter, Cheryl (Pastor Eric) Hansen of Springfield; two grandchildren, Joshua (Nicole) Newton of Monticello and Hannah (Ryan) Schafer of Petersburg and four great-grandchildren, Emmaline Claire Newton, Jackson James Newton, Davina Jean Schafer and Liberty Lucia Schafer.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Jarred Davis Newton.
A 1954 graduate of Pekin Community High School, Gary served in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1957 and attained the rank of corporal while serving with the Department of Pacific Marine Band at Treasure Island, California. He was also a graduate of Brown’s Business College in Peoria.
Gary worked for Caterpillar, Inc. for 33 years, retiring April 1, 1998 as a senior systems analyst in corporate information services and having traveled the world with Caterpillar.
Gary’s passion was music and as the founder and conductor of the Gary Newton Orchestra for 20 years, he traveled the Midwest playing big band, dance music. He also played the trumpet in the Pekin Municipal Band for many years. He was also an avid bass fisherman and founder of the Illinois Valley Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Anglers Society (FOCAS). When he wasn’t vacationing at Table Rock Lake in Missouri or visiting his children or grandchildren you would find Gary on the golf course, playing or looking for “lost balls.” He would want the world to know that he lived a full life, loved his wife of 63 years, loved his family and above all, loved Jesus.
A firm believer that Jesus Christ in the only way for salvation, Gary was a faithful member of Pekin Bible Church, where he was a longtime elder.
Gary never new a stranger. He was always ready with a great story and after just a short while any new friend would join the chorus of those who knew him well saying, “Gary Newton: the man, the myth, the legend.”
His funeral will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, August 2, 2018 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Eric Hansen, his son-in-law and Pastor Chad Nightingale will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 3:45 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Ridge Cemetery in Mapleton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Newton Project, a mission project established in his grandson’s memory, 365 Walnut Glen Drive, Springfield, IL 62707 – www.thenewtonproject.org
Born December 23, 1935 in the kitchen of his childhood home in Goreville to George Marion and Ethel (Thornton) Newton, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol J. Wade, on May 24, 1955 in Pekin. She survives.
Also surviving are one son, Curtis (Debi) Newton of Decatur; one daughter, Cheryl (Pastor Eric) Hansen of Springfield; two grandchildren, Joshua (Nicole) Newton of Monticello and Hannah (Ryan) Schafer of Petersburg and four great-grandchildren, Emmaline Claire Newton, Jackson James Newton, Davina Jean Schafer and Liberty Lucia Schafer.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Jarred Davis Newton.
A 1954 graduate of Pekin Community High School, Gary served in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1957 and attained the rank of corporal while serving with the Department of Pacific Marine Band at Treasure Island, California. He was also a graduate of Brown’s Business College in Peoria.
Gary worked for Caterpillar, Inc. for 33 years, retiring April 1, 1998 as a senior systems analyst in corporate information services and having traveled the world with Caterpillar.
Gary’s passion was music and as the founder and conductor of the Gary Newton Orchestra for 20 years, he traveled the Midwest playing big band, dance music. He also played the trumpet in the Pekin Municipal Band for many years. He was also an avid bass fisherman and founder of the Illinois Valley Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Anglers Society (FOCAS). When he wasn’t vacationing at Table Rock Lake in Missouri or visiting his children or grandchildren you would find Gary on the golf course, playing or looking for “lost balls.” He would want the world to know that he lived a full life, loved his wife of 63 years, loved his family and above all, loved Jesus.
A firm believer that Jesus Christ in the only way for salvation, Gary was a faithful member of Pekin Bible Church, where he was a longtime elder.
Gary never new a stranger. He was always ready with a great story and after just a short while any new friend would join the chorus of those who knew him well saying, “Gary Newton: the man, the myth, the legend.”
His funeral will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, August 2, 2018 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Eric Hansen, his son-in-law and Pastor Chad Nightingale will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 3:45 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Ridge Cemetery in Mapleton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Newton Project, a mission project established in his grandson’s memory, 365 Walnut Glen Drive, Springfield, IL 62707 – www.thenewtonproject.org
Gary M. Newton, 82, of Pekin, passed away and went to be with the Lord at 4:46 a.m. on Monday, July 30, 2018 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
Born December 23, 1935 in the kitchen of his childhood home in Goreville to George Marion and Ethel (Thornton) Newton, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol J. Wade, on May 24, 1955 in Pekin. She survives.
Also surviving are one son, Curtis (Debi) Newton of Decatur; one daughter, Cheryl (Pastor Eric) Hansen of Springfield; two grandchildren, Joshua (Nicole) Newton of Monticello and Hannah (Ryan) Schafer of Petersburg and four great-grandchildren, Emmaline Claire Newton, Jackson James Newton, Davina Jean Schafer and Liberty Lucia Schafer.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Jarred Davis Newton.
A 1954 graduate of Pekin Community High School, Gary served in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1957 and attained the rank of corporal while serving with the Department of Pacific Marine Band at Treasure Island, California. He was also a graduate of Brown’s Business College in Peoria.
Gary worked for Caterpillar, Inc. for 33 years, retiring April 1, 1998 as a senior systems analyst in corporate information services and having traveled the world with Caterpillar.
Gary’s passion was music and as the founder and conductor of the Gary Newton Orchestra for 20 years, he traveled the Midwest playing big band, dance music. He also played the trumpet in the Pekin Municipal Band for many years. He was also an avid bass fisherman and founder of the Illinois Valley Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Anglers Society (FOCAS). When he wasn’t vacationing at Table Rock Lake in Missouri or visiting his children or grandchildren you would find Gary on the golf course, playing or looking for “lost balls.” He would want the world to know that he lived a full life, loved his wife of 63 years, loved his family and above all, loved Jesus.
A firm believer that Jesus Christ in the only way for salvation, Gary was a faithful member of Pekin Bible Church, where he was a longtime elder.
Gary never new a stranger. He was always ready with a great story and after just a short while any new friend would join the chorus of those who knew him well saying, “Gary Newton: the man, the myth, the legend.”
His funeral will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, August 2, 2018 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Eric Hansen, his son-in-law and Pastor Chad Nightingale will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 3:45 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Ridge Cemetery in Mapleton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Newton Project, a mission project established in his grandson’s memory, 365 Walnut Glen Drive, Springfield, IL 62707 – www.thenewtonproject.org
Born December 23, 1935 in the kitchen of his childhood home in Goreville to George Marion and Ethel (Thornton) Newton, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol J. Wade, on May 24, 1955 in Pekin. She survives.
Also surviving are one son, Curtis (Debi) Newton of Decatur; one daughter, Cheryl (Pastor Eric) Hansen of Springfield; two grandchildren, Joshua (Nicole) Newton of Monticello and Hannah (Ryan) Schafer of Petersburg and four great-grandchildren, Emmaline Claire Newton, Jackson James Newton, Davina Jean Schafer and Liberty Lucia Schafer.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Jarred Davis Newton.
A 1954 graduate of Pekin Community High School, Gary served in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1957 and attained the rank of corporal while serving with the Department of Pacific Marine Band at Treasure Island, California. He was also a graduate of Brown’s Business College in Peoria.
Gary worked for Caterpillar, Inc. for 33 years, retiring April 1, 1998 as a senior systems analyst in corporate information services and having traveled the world with Caterpillar.
Gary’s passion was music and as the founder and conductor of the Gary Newton Orchestra for 20 years, he traveled the Midwest playing big band, dance music. He also played the trumpet in the Pekin Municipal Band for many years. He was also an avid bass fisherman and founder of the Illinois Valley Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Anglers Society (FOCAS). When he wasn’t vacationing at Table Rock Lake in Missouri or visiting his children or grandchildren you would find Gary on the golf course, playing or looking for “lost balls.” He would want the world to know that he lived a full life, loved his wife of 63 years, loved his family and above all, loved Jesus.
A firm believer that Jesus Christ in the only way for salvation, Gary was a faithful member of Pekin Bible Church, where he was a longtime elder.
Gary never new a stranger. He was always ready with a great story and after just a short while any new friend would join the chorus of those who knew him well saying, “Gary Newton: the man, the myth, the legend.”
His funeral will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, August 2, 2018 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Eric Hansen, his son-in-law and Pastor Chad Nightingale will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 3:45 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Ridge Cemetery in Mapleton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Newton Project, a mission project established in his grandson’s memory, 365 Walnut Glen Drive, Springfield, IL 62707 – www.thenewtonproject.org
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