Thomas Newell Obituary

Thomas (Tom) Mac Newell was born in Charleston, IL to Redyth Elizabeth (Rennels) and Thomas Franklin Newell. He grew up and attended High School in Charleston, and went on to Eastern Illinois University with a BS, Dual majors in Chemistry and Mathematics. He also minored in Physics and German with No. 1 standing in his university class. He graduated with high honors (4.0 Average) in both majors. During World War II, Tom was an Air Force Navigator with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and flew with a crew on a B-24. He was one of a special group selected to test and fly the strategic B-36 bomber, designed to strike Germany from North America if Britain should fall to German invasion, a combat range of at least 5,700 miles. After the war, Tom married Evelyn Ruby (Bussey) and the couple had two children, Thomas Jeffrey and John Patrick. Evelyn had one daughter, Donna, from a previous marriage. Tom returned to school and in 1948 he received a Masters Degree in Physical Chemistry from the University of Kentucky. Over the years Tom was a research chemist for Amoco in Tulsa, OK, a Development Specialist for Monsanto, and a Senior Scientist for Westinghouse Electric Atomic Power Division in Idaho Falls, ID. The family moved to St. Louis, MO, hoping for the best of medical care when Evelyn was diagnosed with breast cancer. She passed away on December 30, 1961. Following her death, Donna moved away and Tom raised his sons. Among other jobs, he held positions as Chemistry Professor at Casper College in Wyoming, Chemist for the Environmental Protection Agency in Denver, CO, Technical and Financial Administrator for the U.S. Department of Energy in Denver and Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Business. Along the way, Tom met Trudy Landschuetzer, and they developed a special relationship that lasted over 35 years, throughout the rest of his life and even after he developed Alzheimer's Disease. Tom enjoyed writing and has written several short stories. He collected and organized many family photos and wrote some scenarios of family history. He developed a small gun collection, and was a Certified Pistol and Rifle Instructor for the National Rifle Association. He spent several summers as a Seasonal Ranger at Grand Teton National Park, and loved Jackson Hole and Yellowstone. He and his long-time companion Trudy spent several summers in Glacier National Park when she was employed there. He was a professional photographer, a hunter and a very good cook. He loved cooking (game animals, chili and sourdough), and was known in the family for his pecan pie. Tom is survived by his sons and their families, three grandchildren, Joshua, Billie and David, and two great grandchildren, Donivan and Elias Gregory, as well as Trudy Landscheutzer and Donna Hecht.