James Fredrick Newman

OTTAWA - James Fredrick "Jim" Newman, age 60, of Ottawa, passed away Monday at the Ottawa Pavilion. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Garner officiating. Interment with military honors will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 pm Wednesday and 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. Honorary pallbearers will be his sons, Jason and Cory and his grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Andrew. Jim was born December 9, 1947 at Freeport, Illinois, son of James Fredrick and Betty Jean (Loring) Newman, Sr. He married Marla Jean Ross-Cavanaugh June 7, 1980 at Ottawa, Illinois. He is survived by his wife, Marla of Ottawa; two sons, Jason Charles (Pam) Cavanaugh of Peru, Illinois and Cory James Newman of St. Louis, Missouri. He also leaves a granddaughter, Kaitlyn Nicole Cavanaugh and a grandson, Andrew Stephen Cavanaugh as well as several relatives in Ottawa, Freeport and Rockford, Illinois. His parents, paternal and maternal grandparents and a sister, Pauline "Polly" Stohr preceded in death. Jim attended Joliet Elementary, Bradley-Bourbonnais High School and Kankakee Valley Community College. He served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1965-1969 attaining the rank of Sergeant. He received several honors and awards, including the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Expert Rifleman, Vietnamese Campaign Medal and Vietnamese Service Medal. Jim was also a member of Shoreline Boat Club for 28 years, the VFW and the Disabled American Veterans. Jim was employed at Bill Walsh Auto Group the past 18 years as a salesman. In April of 2007, he became sales manager of Bill Walsh Saturn Dealership. Jim always joked with his co-workers saying, "The day I call in sick, I will be dying." He had never called in sick during his 18 years of employment. Jim was diagnosed in August 2007 with inoperable stage four pancreatic cancer. He has been a brave man during this past year battle with the disease. After serving his country with the Marine Corps, Jim worked for Scot Lad Foods and Jim's Supermarket with his father. He enjoyed sales, and also worked in the insurance industry prior to joining the Bill Walsh Auto Group. Jim was truly a family man. He dearly loved family vacations, boating, baseball, golf and cars.