Jerry Newland

Jerry L. Newland, age 61, of New Castle, went to be with his heavenly Father, on Monday, January 5, 2009 at his home. He was a loving husband and father, and an 8th grade Social Studies teacher at New Castle Middle School for 22 years. Jerry treasured his family, friends and students. He loved teaching, reading historical literature and biographies, and traveling to historical sites. Jerry was a master gardener, enjoyed golfing and motorcycling, loved bluegrass music and explored the roads less traveled. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on July 29, 2008.

Jerry was born September 22, 1947 in South Bend, Indiana to Findlay and Hazel (Manuel) Newland. His family moved to New Castle and he finished his last two years of high school and graduated from New Castle Chrysler High School in 1966. He served in the United States Army from 1966-1969 and was employed at Chrysler Corporation from 1973-1981. He was a firefighter for the Washington Township Fire Department in Indianapolis from 1982-1984 and an EMT for the New Castle First Aid Unit from 1984-1986. He served as a Big Brother for BBBS of New Castle from 1984-1986. In 1979 he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University and his masters from BSU in 1995. Jerry coached 8th and 9th grade girls’ basketball in the 1980’s. He was the golf coach of the New Castle Trojan High School golf team 1993-1999 and took the boys to state in 1998. He received the winning coach award during the New Castle Boys Golf Invitational in 1999 and was the recipient of the 1998 Ball State University Alumni Boy’s Golf Coach of the Year Award, chosen by his fellow Indiana high school boy’s golf coaches.

Survivors include his wife of over 37 years: Sheila (Allen); two daughters: Angela (husband: Fred) Dubinger and Jennifer (husband: David) Denney; two grandchildren: Wyatt Denney and Meghan Dubinger all of New Castle; his mother: Hazel Newland of South Bend; a brother: Kelly (wife: Ann) Newland; a sister: Susie (husband: James) Schleis; sister-in-law: Joyce Newland all from South Bend, IN; step mother: Beverly Newland of Appleton, WI; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father: Findlay Newland and his brother: Joe Newland both of South Bend.

Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 8, 2009 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle with Reverend Lynn Furrow officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Summit Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at the funeral home. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Memorial contributions may be given to the Jerry Newland Memorial Fund with envelopes available at the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at www.hinsey-brown.com .