John Newberg

John "Jack" Newberg 86, of Bellaire, died Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 at home. Jack was born Aug. 15, 1923 in Grand Marais, the thirteenth child of Axel and Helen (Lumpio) Newberg. He was a graduate of Grand Marais High School and the University of Michigan, school of Engineering. Jack served as a navigator in the US Army Air Corp from 1943 to 1945. He was a highway engineer with two Michigan Counties, the Michigan State Highway Department and the Federal Highway Administration in Madison, Wisconsin where he worked for 23 years. He retired in 1983. He was a member of the Grand Marais United Methodist Church and the Bellaire Community United Methodist Church. On May 31, 1952 he married Audrey Janssen who survives. He was the loving father of three daughters Nancy (Robert) Rodriguez of Bellaire, Sally (David) Cotey of Mesa, AZ, Judy (David) Schlack of Brooklyn, WI, two sisters Katherine Picel and Ruth (Frank) Mead both of Grand Marais, MI, four grandchildren who he loved and was very proud of, Amanda Cotey, John and Shannon Schlack and Russell Rodriguez. He was preceded in death by seven brothers, Archie, Otto, Stanley, Charles, Philip, Vernon, and infant brother, three sisters Frances, Freda and Ethel. Jack loved to fish, especially in trout streams around Grand Maris. He was a sports enthusiast, a Detroit Tigers fan since childhood, and an avid follower of U of M football and basketball. He was a man of few words with a great sense of humor. Most of all he loved spending time in Grand Marias in the summer. The family will receive friends at the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes, Wednesday, Aug. 26 from 4 to 5 p.m. when a prayer service will be held with Rev. Carl Litchfield officiating. A memorial service will be held on Friday, Aug. 28 at Eleven a.m. at the Grand Marais United Methodist Church with Rev. Paul Mallory officiating. A luncheon will follow. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Burt Twp. Memorial contributions may be made to the Save Your Harbor Fund c/o Burt Twp. Supervisor, P.O. Box 430, Grand Marais, MI 49839 or the Munson Hospice, 550 Munson Ave., Traverse City, Mi 49684. Please sign our online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.