Kathleen Marie Newman

Kathleen Marie Newman went home to be with Jesus on August 5, 2023. She passed peacefully in her sleep at her home in Clearfield, Utah. Born in the Edgemont suburb of East St. Louis, Illinois on September 30, 1923, she was just a couple months shy of living a full century. She was the second of four girls born to William and Elizabeth McCarroll. When she was only eighteen months old her family packed up everything and headed to California. However, the following year, the family returned to East St. Louis, and later to a farm in Collinsville, IL. She attended Catholic grade school and excelled. The family remained in Collinsville until Kathie graduated from Collinsville Township High School at the age of 16. In 1940 her family moved back to California for good. They settled in Pasadena where Kathie began nursing courses at Pasadena City College. In 1942, she met Malcolm Hartwell at Chapman’s Ice Cream store in Pasadena. Kathie and the handsome Army Air Corp Cadet were engaged in December of 1942. Sadly, only three years after they moved to California, her father died of a massive heart attack. As a veteran of WW I and survivor of the Great Depression, and with America now immersed in a second World War, Kathie felt that dad died of a broken heart. So upset she couldn’t do anything to save him, and feeling she could never be a good nurse, Kathie made the decision to leave nursing school.

Kathie was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She outlived three husbands who all served in the military. Kathie married her first husband, Arthur Malcolm “Mal” Hartwell on January 2, 1944. He would die in the line of duty later that year in The Battle of the Bulge. Their son Mac was born a short time later in December. After the war, on April 12, 1946, Kathie married childhood friend Glen Zirges. In the next twelve years they would have six more children, starting off in Pasadena, then Whittier, La Mirada, and finally in San Clemente.

Kathie worked mostly clerical or administrative assistant positions at various companies, a realtor, a rubber manufacturer, a resort, and even the county courthouse. At home she practiced hospitality and had a charming way with people from every walk of life. Kathie was always a gracious hostess whether it be for Glen’s business associates, holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, and for the many family reunions she and her sisters planned for all the cousins.

In September 1977, after all the kids were grown, Glen passed away, and Kathie found herself a widow again. During an exchange of Christmas cards that year, one of Glen’s engineering college classmates at Berkeley, Ronald Newman, informed Kathie that his wife had also passed away. Ron visited Kathie and shortly afterwards they began dating. In December 1978, they were married. Kathie and Ron spent the better part of their 37-year marriage literally traveling the world, from all fifty states to Mexico, England, France, Germany, Italy, and Israel.
Ron passed away in November of 2015, and Kathie devoted the next eight years to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She rarely missed sending a card for every birthday, anniversary, and Christmas. Mom was one of the finest examples of motherhood, nurturing and caring, always putting others first before herself. Spending time with her family was one of her greatest joys and it brought her much pleasure when someone in the family paid her a visit. She was a dedicated prayer warrior, and always had a wise word or a valuable piece of advice. She was generous with all she had, and gladly would help someone in need, especially family. Mom loved her family deeply.

Though Kathie was not fond of war, she was a supportive military wife, and she loved her country and the men in her life who fought and sacrificed for this great nation. To this day there continues to be a legacy of military presence in our family.

Though Kathie attended parochial school as a child, the first half of her life did not place a high priority on knowing God or attending church, so it was not until her early 50’s that she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Kathie loved her family, loved this country, but her greatest love was her devotion to God and deep abiding faith in Jesus. It was her utmost desire that her children, grandchildren, and greats would all come to know Jesus as their savior and live their lives serving God so she could be reunited with them one day in heaven.

Kathie loved all things red, wearing red, red carpet and décor, red dishes. She was a prolific reader, from the classics to Louie L’Amour. As noted, she loved to travel especially if it meant seeing family. And she could take on anyone in a game of cards, Mexican train, or scrabble, and usually win!

Kathie was preceded in death by her three husbands; her three sisters, Dot, Jean, and Ginny; daughter-in-law, Margaret Zirges; son-in-law, Ralph Tancredi; great granddaughter, Aurora Pruitt; great grandson, Nicolas Jordan; and a multitude of dear friends.
Kathie is survived by her 7 children, Mac (Gloria) Zirges; Ken (Louise) Zirges; Ron (Susan) Zirges; Shirley (Ed) Pruitt; Dick Zirges; Barbara (Dave) Corrigan; Phil (Janene) Zirges; 5 stepchildren; 18 Grandchildren; 56 Great Grandchildren, two on the way; 16 Great-Great Grandchildren, one on the way.

Kathie left a legacy of gracious living, generosity, love and devotion to family and friends, and strong abiding faith in her Heavenly Father. She lived a long, full life. We will miss her, but she will forever be in our hearts and memories.

Graveside services were held on Friday, August 11, 2023 at Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park, Bluffdale, Utah.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held for Kathie at 10:00 am on Oct. 7, 2023, at Village Bible Church, 12671 Buaro Street, Garden Grove, CA 92840.