James "Jim" Newman

On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, James A. “Jim” Newman, loving husband and father, passed away at age 84.

Jim was born on January 3, 1937, in Kewanee, IL, to Cecil and Genevieve (Hardt) Newman. On June 16, 1956, he married Jeanne Marie (VanDenBerghe) Newman. They raised two children, Kim Rochelle (of LaGrange, IL) and James Alvin II (of Belleville, IL).

Jim served in the U.S.Air Force and, after college, received his Professional Engineering certificate in 1970 and a Masters in Engineering Administration from Bradley University Peoria, IL in 1976. He was employed as a Civil Engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation in Peoria from July 1962 until his retirement in December 1999.

Jim was a private pilot and belonged to the Peoria 10-4 Flying Club. He also enjoyed being a member of bowling leagues and dance clubs. His favorite hobby was doing genealogy research. Jim was active in his local community, having served on the Washington City Council, Washington Planning Commission, the Tazewell County Board, and Tazewell Zoning Board of Appeals. He also enjoyed gardening, theater, and taking bus trips with his wife of 64 years.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Cecil, and his mother, Genevieve, and his son, James. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne, and his daughter, Kim, as well as one sister, Shirley (Newman) Dana of Kewanee, and two brothers Terry Newman and Jerry Newman, both of Kewanee.  He has four grandchildren, Kelley Sanchez, James O'Rourke Jr, Sean O'Rourke, and Ryan Newman, along with three great-grandchildren, Violet, Ava, and Ellie.

There are no funeral services scheduled at this time. An online tribute may be viewed at www.masonfuneralhomes.com. Donations may be made to St. Jude Midwest Affiliate at www.stJude.org or Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children at www.shrinershospitalforchildren.org.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James "Jim" Newman, please visit our floral store.