Robert Newsted

Newsted, Robert 1/8/1936 - 11/9/2021 Kalamazoo, MI Robert Gene "Bob" Newsted. age 85, of Kalamazoo, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was born on January 8, 1936 in Shelby, Michigan, the son of Lloyd and Delma (Feasel) Newsted. Bob was united in marriage to Joann Arnold on August 27, 1955 and they had four children together. Bob was a 1954 graduate of Hart High School and a 1958 graduate of Michigan State University. He worked his entire career for Clark Equipment Company as a Foreign Finance Documentations Manager in the Export Credit Department. Bob was a faithful member of the Methodist Church for his entire life -- in Michigan (Mears, Niles, Battle Creek, and Gull Lake) and in Florida (Tampa Palms, Palm Beach Gardens, and Hobe Sound). Many of his closest friends evolved from those church fellowships. Bob enjoyed growing up on a fruit farm in Mears and spending his school days in Hart. In his adult years he experienced glorious days at home in Niles and at the summer cottage of Dewey Lake in the 1960s-70s. He and his family made a beautiful new home in Richland in the 1980s, and then upon retirement in 1990 (until 2021), he spent wonderful winter seasons in the Florida communities of Betmar of Zephyrhills, Jupiter Inlet Beach Colony, and Cambridge of Hobe Sound. Bob's passions in life included FFA, 4-H, Al-Bar Horse Club, landscaping, volunteering at the H.S.U.M.C. Thrift Shop, training his dogs Soo-zee and Abbe, and especially attendance at sporting events, concerts, and activities for his kids and grandkids. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ronald, and wife Joann. He is survived by his four children, Timothy (Catherine) of Hastings, Gregory (Marta) of Kalamazoo, Jason (Nicole) of Jupiter, Florida, and Sara (Kevin) Maciejewski of Middleville; seven grandchildren, Angela (Eric) McCarty, Benjamin, Michael, Ariana, Andre, Vaughan and Faylene Guy; four great-grandchildren, Marcus, Logan, and Alaina McCarty, and Liam Wilson; first cousin Patty Vandevelde; niece Laurie Newsted; along with several other relatives and close friends. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at Gull Lake United Methodist Church in Richland. Family will receive friends for a time of visitation from to 1:00 to 2:00 pm. A fellowship dessert will immediately follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Hobe Sound United Methodist Church Mission Fund, Hobe Sound, Florida.