- Date Of Birth: January 22, 1927
- Date Of Death: July 4, 2015
- State: Illinois
Robert L. Newell, 88, of St. Louis, MO, formerly of Ashland, IL, passed away on Saturday, July 4, 2015, at Delmar Gardens South in St. Louis.
Bob was born on January 22, 1927, in Springfield, IL, the only child of Ralph and Edith (Votsmier) Newell, and the beloved husband of Mary Lou (Petefish) Newell for 61 years.
He graduated from Ashland High School in 1944 and received a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1949. Bob served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1947, he joined the American Legion (Ashland) and was proud to be a member for the past 67 years.
Following his college graduation, Bob joined the family-owned Newell Insurance Agency and was owner for 39 years. Community service was important throughout his life. In 1953, Bob was elected Mayor of Ashland and served for a number of years on the Ashland Volunteer Fire Department. As chairman of the Feasibility Study Committee, Bob guided a committee of 25 school districts into the founding of Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, IL. He served as president of the Illinois Insurance Agents Association and for four years was a member of the national committee to create and develop standards for the insurance industry, ACORD, which has since become a world-wide organization.
Bob touched the lives of many people with his smile, generosity, sense of humor, and strong faith. He was a lifetime parishioner of St. Augustine Catholic Church. He volunteered for four years at St. John’s Hospice (Springfield, IL) and three years at St. Joseph’s Hospital (Hot Springs, AR).
While living in Ashland, Bob became a bonsai enthusiast, tending to the many trees he grew in his outdoor greenhouse. In 1993, Bob and Mary Lou moved from Ashland to Hot Springs Village, AR and in 2004, moved to the St. Louis area to reside in Garden Villas South Retirement Community.
Bob is survived by his spouse, Mary Lou. He will be greatly missed by his children: Stephen (Leah) Newell of Springfield, IL, Janet (Dennis) Thomas of Fults, IL, Margaret (Dave) McLaughlin of Arlington Heights, IL, and Kathleen (Don) Angle of Shreveport, LA; grandchildren: Liz (Chris Malerich) Newell of Dayton, OH, Andy Newell of Redwood City, CA, John Thomas of St. Louis, Jathan (Chelsea) McLaughlin of Phoenix, Patrick McLaughlin of Chicago, Rob McLaughlin of Chicago, Matt Angle of Jackson Hole, WY, Laura Angle of Madison, WI, Greg (Nicole) Angle of Columbus, OH; and great grandchildren, Margot McLaughlin and Dean Malerich.
