George "Russ" Newlin

Born in Cedar Rapids, IA
Born on Sep 2, 1942
Departed on Mar 9, 2020

Memorial

George Russell “Russ” Newlin, 77, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 9, 2020, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, overlooking his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes football stadium.

Services will be held Saturday, March 14, 2020, 2:00 PM, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  A visitation will begin at noon at the Chapel.  

Russ was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on September 2, 1942, to George and Elizabeth (Hesebeck) Newlin. He grew up in Marion, Iowa, and graduated from Linn-Mar High School in 1960. He went on to complete an undergraduate degree in political science and French from Upper Iowa University in 1964; received his master’s degree in student psychology and counseling from Arizona State University in 1969; and earned a master’s degree in school administration from Northern Iowa University in 1974. 

In the late 1960s, Russ taught French at Waco High School in Wayland, Iowa, and then at Bettendorf Middle School, in Bettendorf, Iowa. He was then a guidance counselor at Monticello High School in Monticello, Iowa, and then Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa. In 1974 he became associate principal of Mason City High School in Mason City, Iowa. From 1975-1982, he was the associate principal of Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois. 

In 1983, he started an agency with State Farm Insurance in the Chicago area, and upon his death still owned his agency in Winnetka, Illinois. 

Russ’s grandchildren brought him the most joy, and he loved watching them grow. He volunteered his time with homeless and veterans’ programs, and he was invested in their stories. He owned every piece of Iowa Hawkeye fan gear and had a wicked sense of humor that embarrassed his children immensely. He loved history, war movies, reading, and studying his genealogy. 

He is survived by two brothers, Steve (Donna) Newlin of Reno, NV, and Doug Newlin of Tucson, AZ; his children Christine (David) Erntson of Minneapolis and Scott (Christine) Newlin of Cedar Rapids; former spouses Letha (Orcutt) Newlin and Marilyn (Palermo) Newlin; step-children Ron (Erin) Farina of Crystal Lake, IL, and Renee (Damien) Fedo of Arlington Heights, IL; grandchildren Christopher, Matthew, Kathryn, Owen, Cole, and Ocean; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents. 

The family is especially thankful to his friend and office manager of more than 30 years, LaDonna Covelle.   

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in his name to Upper Iowa University, Alumni Office, PO Box 1857, Fayette, Iowa, 52142. https://uiu.edu/alumni/gift-form.html