James "Jim" W. Newing, age 83, a resident of the DuPage Care Center in Wheaton, Illinois, went home to be with his Lord on Friday, July 6, after a final battle with pneumonia. Jim was born May 14, 1935, to William and Margaret Newing.

Jim was born and raised in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. As a young teen, he distinguished himself as the youngest Boy Scout to earn Eagle Scout status. He attended the University of Wisconsin where he got his degree in electrical engineering. It was during this time that Jim came to a saving faith in Jesus and it changed the trajectory of Jim's life. He attended Wheaton College's graduate school in Wheaton, Illinois to get his MA in New Testament. There he met Virginia "Nita" Juanita Van Kampen, the daughter of missionaries, who was earning her BS in nursing. They were married July 25, 1964, and had three children: Carole (Jeff) Johnson, Cheryl Newing, and Jeff Newing. They lived in Lima, Peru, for 5 years, Wheaton for 30 years, and then in Winfield before Jim moved into the DuPage Care Center in Wheaton in 2010.

The first five years of their marriage Jim and Nita served as missionaries with The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) in Lima, Peru, where Jim used his engineering degree to build an AM/FM radio transmitter for the only Christian broadcast station in the area. For the next 20 years, Jim served as the audio-visual director at TEAM's headquarters in Carol Stream, Illinois. He traveled throughout the world, documenting the work of TEAM missionaries in photos and through engaging scripts, producing audio-visual products that TEAM and their missionaries could use to explain and highlight what they were doing in each country. Jim's "retirement" job, after his years at TEAM, was in the media services department of Wheaton College--a job he enjoyed for 10 years.

Jim and Nita were active members of Wheaton Bible Church (West Chicago) from the beginning of their marriage; it was their "sending" church as missionaries and the hub for the many ways they served and socialized within the community. In particular, Jim used his engineering skills to serve the church as a sound technician during services and special events for many years. For fun, Jim enjoyed playing tennis and was quick to say that what he lacked in speed and skill on the court, he made up for with the reach of his very long arms.

Jim had a personal relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that started during his college years. The then-newly-released movie, The Robe, was the tool God used to capture Jim's attention, so it was not a surprise that John 12:26 became his motto: "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor."

In the late 1980s, Jim was diagnosed with severe clinical depression. Over the next 20 years, Jim cycled three times into deep, incapacitating depression. The first two times professional treatment helped Jim recover enough to return to work and normal daily life with most of his previous vibrancy. However, the depression that came upon him in 2009 did not subside with treatment, and the last 9 years of his life, Jim faced the added challenges of dementia and physical limitations that required more help than his family could give him at home.

Even though the latter part of his life held many challenges, and though his depression often colored his perception of his faith and God's love for him, Jim never forgot his Maker. When family or visitors would ask him, "Jim, what can I do for you?" his usual response was to say, "Pray!" That he is now home with his Savior and whole in both body and mind is truly an answer to those prayers.

He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 54 years, Nita; his three children: Carole (Jeff) Johnson of West Chicago, Cheryl Newing of Wheaton, and Jeff Newing of Fox River Grove; and two grandchildren: Madeline "Maddie" Johnson and Mason Johnson.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his twin sister, Nancy (Arnie) Zimmerman of Downers Grove, Illinois.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Wheaton Bible Church , 27W500 North Avenue, West Chicago, IL 60185. Friends may visit with the family from 9:30 a.m. until the start of the service at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the following: STARS Family Services (of College Church), P.O. Box 1388, Wheaton, IL 60187; or to The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM), PO Box 1986, Grapevine, TX 76099-1986; or to Wheaton Bible Church , 27W500 North Avenue, West Chicago, IL 60185.

A wonderful slideshow about Jim and his life can be found here: https://youtu.be/uxgmo3yxw6U