Wilbur Ray Newberg, one of twelve children of Alick Edward and Flossie Louise (Thurber) Newberg, was born on September, 3, 1921 in Villisca, Iowa. He grew up in Villisca and attended school through the 10th grade. Wilbur joined the United States Army and saw action on the Beaches of Normandy, the towns of Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He was awarded four Bronze Battle Stars, six Overseas Service Bars, and the Good Conduct Medal. Following the service, Wilbur returned home to Villisca and worked for area farmers.
Wilbur and Doris Ione Mitchel were married on September 15, 1948 in Corning, Iowa. They made their home in the Villisca area where Wilbur continued to farm. Their marriage was blessed with five children, Alice Jean, Donna Rae, Edward Wesley, Pamela Ione and Richard Wilbur. In 1952, the family moved to Malvern, Iowa where Wilbur worked at the Henningsen Egg Plant. Wilbur and Doris had been married 28 years when Doris was tragically killed in a car accident in 1976.
Wilbur and Sarrah Helen (Rountree) Moore were united in marriage on April 17, 1978 at the United Methodist Church in Glenwood, Iowa. In 1980, Wilbur and Sarrah moved to live in Tabor, Iowa. Wilbur worked in the laundry department at the Glenwood State Hospital School until his retirement in 1983. They had been married nearly 28 years when Sarrah passed away on January 3, 2006. Wilbur continued to live in Malvern until June 2007 when he moved to Acorn Acres in Red Oak, Iowa. In February 2009, Wilbur moved to the Glen Haven Home in Glenwood.
Wilbur enjoyed his spending time with his family. He was a member of the Veterans Foreign Wars in Kansas City, Missouri and the American Legion in Des Moines, Iowa.
Wilbur passed away October 11, 2012 at the Glen Haven Home in Glenwood at the age of 91 years, 1 month, 8 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Doris and Sarrah; sisters, Elsie Havens, Gladys Govig, Fern Potter, Iva Lee Lawson, Delta Shaffer, and Louise Smith; and granddaughter Brandi Vermele.
Wilbur is survived by his children, Alice Parks and husband Roger of Victoria, TX, Donna Evans and husband David of Glenwood, Ed Newberg of Omaha, NE, Pam Vermele and husband Charles of Council Bluffs, IA, and Richard Newberg and friend Lori of Mesa, AZ; six grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; stepchildren, Shirley Miller and husband Lowell of Tabor and Robert Moore of Omaha; sisters, Emma Khun of Villisca, IA, Dorothy Briggs of Ohio; brothers, Roy Newberg and wife Ruth of Atlantic, IA, Ray Newberg and wife Charlotte of Clarinda, IA and Mahlon Newberg of Kansas City, MO; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
Memorial fund has been established.
Military Honors & Interment in the Malvern Cemetery.
Loess Hills Funeral Home of Glenwood in charge of arrangements.