Irene E. Newton, 94, of Grundy Center, Iowa, completed life's long journey, Saturday, July 23, 2011 at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care in Grundy Center, Iowa. Funeral Services will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, July 29, 2011, at the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center, with Pastor Phil Dicks officiating. Private Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. Visitation will be on Thursday, July 28, 2011, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Irene Evelyn was born March 25, 1917, in Grundy County, the daughter of Fred and Dena (Schatzberg) Pabst. Irene attended rural Grundy County schools and Grundy Center High School graduating in 1935. She grew up and lived in Grundy County her whole life. She was united in marriage to Wayne D. Newton on June 1, 1937 in Osage, Iowa. To this union two children were born. They farmed in the Grundy Center area for 54 years retiring in 1976 and moved Grundy Center in 1991.
Irene enjoyed watching birds especially the goldfinch and cardinals. She was a huge Iowa Hawkeye fan; she enjoyed watching football and basketball. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Grundy Center, Helping Hands Group and the American Legion Auxiliary in Grundy Center.
Irene is survived by her son, Terry Newton of Marshalltown, IA; daughter, Janice (Gary) Creery of Grundy Center, IA; 4 grandchildren, 11 great- grandchildren 2 great-great- grandchildren and brother, Earnest Hoffa of Grundy Center.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wayne in 1991, and brother, Leon Hoffa.