“Why, land is the only thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for, because it's the only thing that lasts.” - Gerald O’Hara, Gone With the Wind

This sentiment was shared by Don Newell with his children and grandchildren throughout their lives as he taught them about his love of the land that his family had been blessed to farm for over a century. He was a man of the land, a man who would share his belief with anyone about the beauty in a field of straight corn rows and being able to see nothing but corn and soybeans for miles. To him, a fall sunset with corn dust in the air and brilliant fiery shades of orange and red were God’s way of saying, “Well done”.

Donald Joseph was born to Francis and Ruth Newell (Hughett) on August 17th, 1937. He was raised on land that had been homesteaded in 1840 and in the Newell family for 4 generations beginning with his great grandfather, Thomas, who settled here from Ireland. It was here that Don grew up with his 2 brothers, Bill and Preston and sister, Karen, attended Crow’s Point one room schoolhouse and in 4th grade began to attend Ashland schools. It was in school that he met his lifelong best friends, ran track, played basketball and found endless ways to satisfy his curiosity about how things worked. He attended Notre Dame University and credits that time in his life for showing him how vast the world was and that God truly was everywhere.

After Notre Dame, Don went to work for General Telephone and traveled to the head office in Belvidere, Il. every Friday. Don turned in his timecard and turned his head in the direction of a sweet young receptionist. Dorothy Johnson married this farm boy, and they began their life in Ashland, Il. They settled just 3 miles away from Don’s childhood farmhouse and shared 65 years together raising three children, Dawn (Dan) Coghlan, Diane Newell and David (Natalie) Newell. Dawn and David blessed he and Dorothy with 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Don believed in giving back to his community and throughout his life, serving on the Ashland School Board, the Prentice Elevator Board, the Farm Bureau Board, the Cass County Historical Society and the Board of Directors of the Petefish, Skiles & Co Bank. He was a lifelong, active member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Ashland.

Don had always been known as having a sharp wit and thoroughly enjoying a clever turn of a phrase. Growing up, it was known that you never asked Dad how he slept over the last evening as you would hear his inevitable, and groan worthy response, “With my eyes closed – how did you sleep?”

In his later years, he often reflected on how very grateful he was for all he had been blessed with and how good life had been for him and his family. He once quipped that ‘when I die, the undertaker is going to have a hard time getting the smile off my face’! That will be especially true if his requests are granted and he is buried with Mel-O-Cream Old Fashioned Glazed donuts and has the best seat in heaven to watch Notre Dame football!

Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Bill, his daughter-in-law, Lesley and his wife, Dorothy… may they all rest in peace.

A funeral mass will be held 10:00 am Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Ashland, followed by burial at St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery. The family will meet friends and family at Don’s house, 617 West Editor Street, Ashland, IL 62612, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Monday evening.

Memorial donations are suggested to St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery, Ashland Food Pantry, or Dorothy’s House, a nonprofit organization. To order flowers, please visit our resources tab to view local florists and venders. 

The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Ashland is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left online at buchanancody.com.