Anthony (Tony) Lee Newton

Anthony (Tony) Lee Newton, 67, of Powellton, Illinois passed away peacefully on Thursday,
January 20, 2022 at the Silver Maple Memory Care Center, Carthage, Illinois where he had lived since
May of 2020.
He was born February, 4, 1954 in Fort Madison, Iowa, the son of Mahlon Leslie and Wanda Lee
(Thornber) Newton and was the youngest of four children. On June 2, 1984 he married Donna Lynn
Willard at the Bowen Christian Church.
Tony grew up in Powellton, Illinois and he graduated from Nauvoo-Colusa High School in 1972
and from Northeast Missouri State University in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical
education.
Tony took pride in being called “Coach” by many students in a variety of sports throughout his
11 years as a physical education teacher. After his coaching tenure, he proudly worked for Country
Financial with Donna for 25 years at their office in Niota, Illinois. He was a faithful member and elder of
the Burnside Christian Church and enjoyed filling in to deliver an encouraging sermon in many local
churches. He was active in the community serving as a board member for various groups including: the
Campus Students for Christ at Western Illinois University, the State Bank of Nauvoo, and Ignite Church
Planting. He was an avid sports fan that would intensely watch any game, especially those that involved
his children.
He will be remembered for being a devout servant to the Lord, possessing a positive outlook on
every aspect of life, and a loving man who could fill any room with laughter and smile.
Tony is survived by his wife, Donna; their two children: Brooke (Matt) Lafrenz of Tipton, Iowa,
and Jake (Sarah) Newton of Mt. Sterling, Illinois; their three grandchildren who called him Papa: Carson
Lee, Miles Matthew and Emersyn Lynn Lafrenz; his three brothers: William Newton of Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa; James Newton of Bandera, Texas; and Edward Newton of Bowen, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday morning, January 24, 2022, at the Burnside
Christian Church in Burnside, Illinois with burial to follow in the Thornber Cemetery near Powellton.
Visitation will held from 4:00 – 8:00 PM Sunday evening at the Burnside Christian Church. A memorial
fund has been established for the Burnside Christian Church and the Ignite Church Planting.