Jack Newbold

Jack Newbold, a lifetime resident of the Durango area, died May 6th, 2014 at the Home Lake Veterans Home in Monte Vista, Colorado, three days short of his 87th birthday.
Jack was born and raised at his family's homestead in western La Plata county, the third of four children born to Benjamin and Katherine Newbold. He attended school at the Independence School near Marvel and the Old Fort Lewis near Hesperus.
Jack served his country with distinction during the Korean Conflict as a member of the 45th Infantry Division, where he was injured in combat. He received several Letters of Commendation from senior commanding officers, including Major General James C. Styron. He was featured on the cover of Stars and Stripes Magazine for his ingenuity in designing and constructing an apparatus to distill red gasoline into white gas to safely operate stoves and lanterns.
Jack married Jolene Biggs on October 24, 1953 near Ignacio, Colorado at her family's Spring Creek Ranch. Together they had four children, Christine, Keith, Scott and Herb. Jack was a fireman with the Durango Fire Department for five years in the mid to late 1950s. During his lifetime he and his wife Jolene owned and operated several area businesses, including Welding Service and Supply, Cottonwood Camper Park, Hermosa Gravel Products and Newbold Firewood.
Jack was a founding board member of the Animas Fire Protection District and served as its first Chairman. He was also a founding board member and past President of the Four Corners Antique Power Association. His hobbies included restoring steam engines and antique tractors and implements, collecting antique Winchester firearms, and collecting antiques. His various collections regularly won Grand Champion at the La Plata County Fair. He was an expert marksman and avid hunter and for many decades spent each fall hunting elk in the Southwestern Colorado mountains. He was widely regarded as a mechanical and engineering genius, and spent many hours working in his welding and machine shop.
Jack was well know for his entries in local parades. His 1898 Case steam tractor "Old Abe", incline steam locomotive, antique tractors and Model T were common sights in parades in area communities.
Jack was preceded in death by son Scott Newbold, son-in-law Herb Musselman and daughter-in-law Cheri (Giersch) Newbold. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jolene Newbold, daughter Christine Musselman and son Keith Newbold of Durango, and son and daughter-in-law Herb and Lynda Newbold of Louisville, Colorado. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Darin, Kristi and Devin Newbold.
In support of life, and in accordance with Jack's wishes, his body was donated to advance medicine through Science Care, a whole body donor program. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17th at the Seventh Day Adventist Church at 1775 Florida Road in Durango.