Funeral services were Wednesday, June 13 at Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel in Fremont for Wilbert R. “Bert” Newman, 99, of Fremont who died Saturday, June 9, 1990 at Memorial Hospital of Dodge County in Fremont. Dr. Joe Scahill officiated.

Graveside military rites were conducted by William Job Gibson American Legion Post of Sidney, Iowa at Riverton, Iowa Cemetery.

Wilbert R. Newman was born December 19, 1890 at Darington, Wisconsin. He moved to Mitchell, South Dakota at age 14.

He served in the United States Army during World War I from 1917-1919 in France as a supply train driver. He also trained others to drive.

In 1929 he moved to Blair and was superintendent of wiring on the Blair Bridge installing the first electric street lighting in Blair.

In 1930 he moved to Fremont and worked for Beemer Electric until 1945 when he started Newman Electric Service. He was the electrical contractor for many Fremont buildings, including the city auditorium and the Empress Theatre remodeling.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church, a charter member of the national American Legion organization, a permanent lifetime member of the American Legion Post No. 20 of Fremont, co-founder of Fremont’s American Legion baseball program in 1932, a member of Voiture 1018, 40 & Eight of Fremont, a national life member and quartermaster adjutant of World War I Barracks 0493 and a member of Resurgam Masonic Lodge No. 31 AF & AM of Mitchell.

He was in charge of Fremont’s Fourth of July fireworks displays for many years and had assisted the late Sam Berek in Fourth of July pageants at Memorial Stadium.

He married Grace Chrestensen October 5, 1920 in Council Bluff, Iowa. She preceded him in death in February, 1973.

He is survived by a son, Robert of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; a daughter, Jean (Mrs. Ira) Coon of Fremont; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~