Neoma Newton

NEOMA NEWTON

Blairstown

Neoma M. Niebuhr Newton, 103, entered into eternal rest Feb. 11, 2015, at Countryside Senior Living in Sioux City under the caring hand of her daughter, Donna Lahn. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb.

16, at Grace Lutheran Church in Blairstown, with the Rev. David Rempfer officiating. Interment will be at 2 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be at the church in Blairstown from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Neoma was born May 21, 1911, to William and Johanna (Kluss) Niebuhr in Blairstown. She was one of 10 children and lived in the Blairstown community her entire life. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She graduated from Blairstown High School in 1928 and attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls for a Normal Training course. She taught at St. Clair No. 3 and the Mayhew School.

On Sept. 5, 1931, she was married to Donald B. Newton of Blairstown at Grace Lutheran Church. They were farmers in the Blairstown area and were blessed with four children, Donna, Wayne, Charlotte and Marvin.

Donald passed away in August 1963 and two years later, Neoma moved into Blairstown. She attended night school to study accounting and bookkeeping. She was employed by Me Too stores, Blairstown, and Nash Finch, Cedar Rapids, for 10 years. She then became the librarian at the Blairstown Library until 1985.

Following her retirement from the library, she enjoyed tutoring children in her home. In 1999, she was employed as a receptionist at Sunrise BEIFF and then BEIFF Commodities in Blairstown and worked there until 2010.

She was living with her daughter, Donna, in Sioux City before entering the Senior Living facility.

Neoma was an active member at Grace Lutheran Church, serving as a Sunday school and Bible class teacher for many years. She was a member of Ladies Aid and Fellowship Club.

She was very interested in community activities, such as the Blairstown Development, Blairstown Foundation, the community United Way, the Blairstown Park Fund and Senior Dining.

Her family and faith were her priorities and she enjoyed every gathering. Her Christian faith was the basis for her happy and long life.

Her other interests included golf, sports, playing cards, quilting, writing poetry and word search.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Donald; her parents; six brothers, Victor, Albert, Waldo, William, Edwin and Kenneth Niebuhr; her sisters, Luella Schlue and Emmalena Shogren; sons-in-law, Victor Lahn and Bill Majewsky; and great-granddaughter, Amanda Christman.

She is survived by her children, Donna Lahn, Sioux City, Wayne (Nancy) Newton, Blairstown, Charlotte (Char) Majewsky, Huntington Beach, Calif., and Marvin (Carole) Newton, Solvang, Calif.; her nine grandchildren, James Lahn, David Lahn, Deb (David) Mortensen, Donald (Kelly) Newton, Daniel (Carrie) Newton, Gregory (Cathy) Christman, Jeffrey Christman, Janel (Lucky) Navarro and Danielle (Stan) Bray; stepgrandchildren, John (JaneAnn) Berta, Jennifer (Bart) Farrell and Alexandra Harder; and several grandchildren, stepgreat-grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister, Ilene Meyer; and sister-in-law, Shirley Shogren.

Her relatives and friends will truly miss her kind and loving personality.

Phillips Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be left at www.phillips funeralhomes.com.