Funeral services for Leroy "Pete" Newell were held Thursday, July 19, 2001, at 2:00 p.m. at Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Pastor Mary Allsup officiated the service. Interment was held in Gray Cemetery, Gray, Iowa, with Jason Bush, Tony Bush, Terry Hoffman, Heath Kasperbauer, Tim Bengard and Jed Kasperbauer as casket bearers.

Leroy (Pete) Harry Newell, the son of Harry Joseph and Maxine Vera Robinson Newell, was born April 1, 1937, at his parents' home in Audubon County, near Gray, Iowa, and died July 17, 2001, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa, at the age of 64 years, 3 months and 16 days.

Pete was baptized at the Gray Methodist Church on November 27, 1940. He attended Gray Consolidated School, then was employed as a farm hand for several different farmers. He served in the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged on June 30, 1963. Pete worked for several different farmers in the Gray area. He worked construction for several years, then did trucking in the Manning area until he retired due to his failing health. Pete lived with his mother in Gray and helped care for her until her death in November of 2000.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his sister, Esther Louise Bengard; his brothers: Wayne (Buck) Newell and Gene (John) Newell and his niece, Jan Kasperbauer.

Survivors include his sister, Marilyn Newell of Gray; his brother-in-law, Jed W. Bengard of Dedham, Iowa; his nieces and nephews and their spouses: Joan and Jim Bush of Audubon, Iowa; Jane and Tom Hoffman of Coon Rapids, Iowa; Jed Jr. and Brenda Bengard of Exira, Iowa; Julie and Gary Danner of Dedham, Iowa; Allen Newell and Cris Newell, both of Audubon; his nephew-inlaw, Roger Kasperbauer of Dedham; great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives and friends.