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Margaret Clara Newell
Margaret Clara Newell
Iowa City
Margaret Clara Newell, 94, of Iowa City, died peacefully on June 13, 2022, at Bickford Senior Living, Iowa City surrounded by family.
A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at Oakland Cemetery in Manchester, Iowa, with Mark Newell officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to a food bank near you.
Margaret was born on Dec. 1, 1927, in Lovell Township in Jones County, Iowa, the daughter of Harm and Emma (Marek) Schatz. She graduated high school from the Dewitt Public School in 1945.
Margaret married Talmage Rutledge. They had two children, Janice and Arna and later divorced. She lived in Oklahoma for a time. She worked for an insurance company in Cedar Rapids for many years.
On June 4, 1967, Margaret married Orville Newell in Cedar Rapids. They resided in Cedar Rapids where they owned and operated the Lincolnway Mobile Home Court and an adjoining motel. In 1986, they built an earth-sheltered home on 40 acres north of Edgewood where they maintained a large garden and orchard. Later they moved to Manchester, Iowa. In 2015 Margaret’s last move was to Iowa City Bickford Senior Living, where she was cared for by the great staff there and helped by St. Croix Hospice near the end of her life. The family is very thankful for the excellent care she received.
Margaret loved to read and always kept a full bookshelf nearby. She remained a faithful Christian throughout her life and enjoyed supporting her church. Margaret continued the love of cats from her mother. Many cats shared her homes. This tradition is carried on by her daughter, Arna.
Margaret is survived by her youngest brother, Harlan (Ella); her daughter, Arna (Tom) Rutledge; stepsons, Blaine Newell and Mark Newell; and son-in-law, David Ulrick. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and numerous extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Talmage Rutledge and Orville Newell; daughter, Janice Rutledge; and seven siblings.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.
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