Newell, Orville C.

Orville C. Newell, 88, of Manchester, died at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013.

He was born in Proctor, Minn., on July 3, 1925, the son of Clifford and Rose (Wilhelm) Newell. Orville served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 and attended UCLA, where he received a degree in meteorology. He then was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy. After he returned from the service, he was employed as a meteorologist by Pan Am and then by Northwest Airlines. While employed by Northwest, he lived for several years in Japan. He later transferred to Minneapolis, but on the way, he took advantage of his options as an airline staff member, and returned by taking a trip around the world.

Orville married Beatrice Isacson. They had two sons, and later divorced.

On June 4, 1967, Orville married Margaret Schatz in Cedar Rapids. They resided in Cedar Rapids, where they owned and operated Lincolnway Mobile Home Court and an adjoining motel. In 1986, they built an earth-sheltered home on 40 acres north of Edgewood, where Orville maintained a large garden and orchard.

He also worked at Backbone State Park and volunteered at the CCC Museum.

Orville and Margaret moved to Manchester in 2006.

Orville enjoyed woodworking, gardening and sports. He played table tennis and golf and loved to ski. His favorite ski area gave a free lift pass to skiers 70 and older, and Orville enjoyed that perk for many years.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret of Manchester; his two sons, Mark (Karen) Newell of Pennsylvania and Blaine Newell of Illinois; two stepchildren, Arna (Thomas) Rutledge of Cedar Rapids and Janice Rutledge (Dave Ulrick) of Iowa City; two brothers, Walter (Lois) Newell of Minnesota and Rose Mary Spaulding of Florida; nephew, Richard Newell of California; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Orville was preceded in death by his parents; and by two brothers, Robert (“Bob”) Newell and Frederick (“Joe”) Newell.

Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com.

Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at First Lutheran Church in Manchester, by the Rev. Tony D. Ede. Visitation: 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Manchester; also one hour before services at the church on Friday. Interment: Oakland Cemetery, Manchester.

Published Nov. 6, 2013 in The Gazette