Arlene Newcomb

     Arlene Newcomb, 93, of Bartley passed away Monday, December 29, 2025, at Highland Park Retirement Community in McCook.

     Arlene Marie Gramm was born on the family homestead north of Bethune, Colorado on September 20, 1932. She was the older of two daughters born to William and Martha (Stahlecker) Gramm.

     Arlene attended the first through eighth grades in a one-room country school, Rural District #22 Prairie View, Bethune, Colorado. She attended the 9th grade at Bethune High School before her family moved to Burlington, Colorado in the fall of 1948, where she attended her last three years of high school. Arlene graduated from Burlington High School, as a member of the Class of 1951.

     Following graduation, Arlene worked at the JCPenney’s store in Burlington for one year until her sister, Edna, graduated high school. In the fall of 1952, Arlene and Edna headed to Lincoln, Nebraska to attend the University of Nebraska. Arlene often said that was a pretty good arrangement since they could travel back and forth between home and school via the train.

     Having attended UNL one full year, Arlene and Edna both realized the economics of transferring to the Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, Colorado. They could attend a full year of classes in Greeley for the same cost as a single semester at UNL. In the fall of 1953, Arlene enrolled at the Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, and earned her teaching certificate from there in the spring of 1956.

     Upon graduation, Arlene signed a teaching contract at Bartley High School, Bartley, Nebraska. She began teaching Home Economics and Business in the fall of 1956. In the fall of 1957, another new teacher joined the staff at Bartley, Robert (Bob) Newcomb. After a year-long courtship, Bob and Arlene were married in a double ceremony with Arlene’s sister Edna and Arnold Warren near Bethune, Colorado on August 2, 1958.

     Arlene instantly became mom to Bob’s son from a previous marriage, (Robert) Douglas (Doug). Bob and Arlene had three additional sons, Gary, Larry and Craig.

     After teaching five years at Bartley, Arlene focused solely on raising the boys and being a homemaker. She was a wonderful cook and baker. Her sons and grandchildren reveled in her macaroni salad, fudge, cherry mash and canned pickles. Many family and friends were so pleased to enjoy Arlene’s cinnamon twists and cherry bars. She made and shared dozens of cookies for her church family, as well.

     Bob and Arlene enjoyed gardening together and always had such a variety of produce—strawberries, cucumbers, potatoes and peppers. They also enjoyed morning coffee on their deck surrounded by Arlene’s beautiful flowers, riding bikes and taking walks around a few blocks in Bartley.

     In a house busy with athletics, hunting and fishing, Arlene was her family’s biggest cheerleader and fan. She took such pleasure in seeing her boys and Bob enjoying so much activity together. She was faithfully in attendance at most Bartley Bomber activities. In his coaching days, Bob said he never worried about what was in an official scorebook or on the stats sheets; he knew Arlene was keeping the most accurate stats in the gym.

     Arlene’s family was one of her greatest treasures. She took great pride in each of her four boys and their school activities, then work careers and their families. Whether it were her own children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren, Arlene cherished reading to a little one on her lap or playing a card or board game with them.

     She enjoyed visiting her sister and relatives in Kansas and Colorado, Bob’s family in Colorado and Idaho and her children and grandchildren as often as possible, but she also greatly enjoyed having company (family, friends, the coffee gang) in her home. A good cup of coffee or a cold glass of iced tea around the kitchen table with simple conversation was best.

     Quilting and singing were also Arlene’s joys. It was a real treat to hear one of her solos or duets in church on Sunday morning or Christmas Eve, most often accompanied by her son Gary on the piano or organ.

     Arlene was a long-time member of the Methodist Church. She was a member of United Methodist Women (UMW), the Legion Auxiliary, the Busy Bee Club and the Live ‘N Learn Club.

     Giving back to the community through various volunteer efforts was important to Bob & Arlene. They actively participated in summer community events, celebrations and parades. They often assisted at The Bartley Café. Arlene had a thoughtful way of lifting others’ spirits with some of her homemade goodies, a nice note or a well-timed phone call or personal visit.

     Leaving those to mourn her death but celebrate her life include her sons and daughters-in-law, (Robert) Doug Newcomb, Stratton, Nebraska Gary Newcomb, Bartley, Nebraska, Shari (Bunger) Newcomb, Minden, Nebraska and Craig and Trista (Hitzemann) Newcomb, Bertrand, Nebraska; four grandchildren: Kari and husband, Tim Vacek, Lincoln, Nebraska, Kayla and husband, Scott Smalley, McCook, Nebraska, Kyle Newcomb and wife, Hayley (Storm), McCook, Nebraska and Dawson Newcomb, Bertrand, Nebraska; seven great-grandchildren: Tricia, Teddy, Molly and Luke Vacek, Lincoln, Nebraska; Hailey and Hayden Smalley, McCook, Nebraska and Casen Newcomb, McCook, NE; her sister, Edna Warren, Kanorado, Kansas and a host of nieces, nephews and cherished friends.

     Arlene was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 63 years, Bob; her son, Larry; her parents, William and Martha (Stahlecker) Gramm; parents-in-law, Edward and Grace (Baker) Newcomb; in-laws, Arnold Warren, Winton and Maxine Newcomb, William (Bill) and Virginia (Ginny) Newcomb, Ross and Mae Newcomb, Ruby (Newcomb) Estergard Hutcheson, Willard Estergard and Bill Hutcheson; nephew Ryan Warren and niece Judy Newcomb.

     Visitation will be held on Friday afternoon, January 2. 2026 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Lockenour-Jones Mortuary in Cambridge.

     Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 AM on Saturday morning, January 3, 2026 at the Congregational Church in Cambridge with George Probasco providing words of comfort. Burial in the Batley Cemetery will follow services.

     Memorials are suggested to the family of Arlene Newcomb for future designation. Online condolences may be left at Lockenour.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lockenour-Jones Mortuary of Cambridge.