Ernest E. Newcombe Jr.

Newk was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on October 2, 1927. His family moved to Keene in 1930 when his father, Ernest Sr., accepted a position with the National Grange Mutual Insurance Company. Newk attended Lincoln Elementary School, Keene Jr. High School, and Keene High School, graduating with the class of 1945. He served in the Pacific with the US Navy as a Store Keeper Third Class on the USS Molala, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1946.

Immediately following his Navy service, Newk enrolled at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After his sophomore year, on June 6, 1948, Newk married his high school sweetheart Jean Elizabeth Bower of Surry. The wedding ceremony was celebrated at St. James Episcopal Church in Keene, where Newk and Jean had met as teenagers during a youth group get-together. After a brief honeymoon trip to Quebec City, the couple loaded a borrowed truck with furniture and moved to an off-campus apartment in West Philadelphia so Newk could resume his studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

Following the birth of their first son in 1949 and Newk’s graduation in 1950, the young family moved back to Keene where Newk was employed for three years by the National Grange Mutual and Peerless Insurance companies. In 1953 Newk successfully completed his Chartered Life Underwriting (CLU) designation, and joined the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Newk’s office in Keene expanded over the years, and he later took on the responsibilities of District Agent, recruiting and mentoring new agents including his son Jim, who joined the agency in 1980 and remained active for more than 40 years. Newk earned numerous underwriting awards during his lifelong career with Northwestern Mutual. He also held leadership positions for many years with the NH Chapter of the American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters.

Newk was a very active member of St. James Episcopal Church throughout his lifetime. In his younger years, Newk was a Sunday School teacher and helped establish the St. James charter for Boy Scout Troop 18. He was one of the first Scoutmasters for the troop, and continued participating with Fritz Geller and other troop leaders for many years while his three sons advanced from Cub to Eagle Scouts. Newk also served St. James as an usher, lay reader, vestry member, and senior warden, while also assisting with financial pledge drives and rector search committees. He helped his wife Jean organize many wonderful Christmas bazaars, and provided flags and a cake for annual Veterans Day concerts. In later years Newk served with the visitation ministry, and drove senior parishioners lacking transportation to and from church services.

Newk was one of the earliest members of the Keene Lions Club, serving as President and participating in numerous fundraising events including light bulb sales and the original Eyes-a-Poppin’ variety shows. He later helped organize the Junior Lions program, and drove participating high school students, including several of his grandchildren, to and from Lions Club luncheon meetings.

Above all else, Newk was a family man who encouraged and supported all of his children and grandchildren, taking great pride in everyone’s accomplishments and life events. The family home was the place to gather for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions of all kinds for many years. Newk also started the long family tradition of vacations on Cape Cod, starting with childhood visits to his aunt and uncle’s Sunnyside Cottages in North Truro and later the Brewster Park Club.

Newk is pre-deceased by his wife of 68 years, Jean; his parents, Ernest E. and Eleanor G. Newcombe; and by three siblings: Barbara Cook of Colorado Springs, Phyllis Borden of Keene, and Robert Newcombe of Deerfield Beach, FL.

Newk is survived by his five children and their spouses: James E. Newcombe and wife Cynthia of Nelson; Thomas B. Newcombe and wife Carol of Nelson; John T. Newcombe and wife Jennie of Keene; Susan J. Downing and husband Skip of West Lebanon, NH; and Jennifer A. Brown and husband Ty of West Swanzey. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff of American House Keene and Pine Rock Manor in Warner, NH for the loving care and support they provided to Newk during his final years. We also want to express gratitude and appreciation to our sister Jenny, who was the most dedicated and loving caregiver and advocate for both Dad and Mom during the years they needed extra help and support.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:30 on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at St. Bernard’s Church, 185 Main St., Keene. An Anglican memorial service will also be held at Brownsville Community Church, 66 Brownsville-Hartland Rd., Brownsville, VT at 12:30 on Sunday, November 26, 2023.