September 27, 1934 – October 9, 2021
Don’t ask Don for his opinion if you don’t want the honest truth. Many people valued his opinion. He was very good at listening and making decisions, which are some of the skills that helped him to be an excellent salesperson.
Don was born on September 27, 1934 to Elsa Stecker Newby and Harold Anderson Newby in Kansas City, Kan. When Don was around eight years old, the family moved to Denver, Colo., where Don spent the remainder of his growing-up years. Don held many different jobs in his youth. His first job was delivering newspapers where a rabid dog bit him as he was riding his bicycle. Besides working, he also found time to earn his Eagle Scout badge.
Don graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in business. During college, he worked in the winter as a registrar at AAA. He also spent one summer working in the mountains on the D&RG railroad and spent three weeks helping build the Oak Creek Bridge. He also worked one or two years at the icehouse where he accidently shoved a pipe pole through this hand. He had a near-death experience as a result when a tetanus shot caused his heart to stop. Life was not all work as he belonged to the ATO fraternity and was even Pioneer Pete, a DU mascot for a short time.
After college, Don joined Scott Paper Company in retail sales, but the army decided he should join them. After serving two years in Orléans, France, he returned to Scott Paper where he spent several years introducing new products throughout the USA living for short times in many different cities. He then became a district manager and earned three blazers and five carload sale rings during his career.
Don and Mary Jane Cronk were married June 26, 1965 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Anderson, Ind. Don and Mary Jane began their married life together in Denver. After six months they moved to Arlington Heights, Ill. Their next home was in Overland Park, Kan., where their first child Melinda was born. Donald Todd was born when they lived in Atlanta, Ga. After living in Florham Park, N.J., for five years, the family moved to their permanent home in Carmel. Church was important to Don, and he loved serving as an usher at Pilgrim Lutheran Church and formerly at King of Glory Lutheran Church.
Don loved art and classical music. Although he was not talented in working with his hands, he did collect anything to do with model railroading. With his family along, they attended the National Model Railroaders Association convention every year which allowed them to see a lot of the United States. His favorite railroad was the Great Northern. Don was also a hug fan of the Denver Broncos.
Don and May Jane enjoyed 56 years together before Don was called to his heavenly home on October 9, 2021, at the age of 87.
In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by his sister, Marilyn Knapp.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Jane; two children, Melinda and Todd Newby; niece, Christy Davis; sister-in-law, Sara (Sally) and Tom Stuebe; and two nephews, Brian, and Eric Stuebe.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, with visitation beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 3650 W. 106th St., Carmel. Please RSVP to (317) 846-2221 by Tuesday, October 19, 2021. Masks are required.
Inurnment will take place in Anderson Memorial Gardens cemetery in Anderson, Ind.
In memory of Don, donations may be made to Pilgrim Lutheran Church or the American Heart Association, 6500 Technology Center Drive #100, Indianapolis, IN 46278.
Bussell Family Funerals is privileged to assist the family in arrangements.
Condolences: bussellfamilyfunerals.com