Newell Shoup

July 05, 1944 — August 18, 2023

Newell Shoup

Service Details

Newell (Pee Wee) L. Shoup, Jr., age 79 of Des Moines, IA, passed away Friday, August 18, 2023 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.

A Celebration of Life will be Sunday, September 24, 2023, from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm at Gerri’s Bar and Grill, 232 E 30th St, Des Moines, IA.

Newell was born July 5, 1944, to Newell Sr. and Vernon Viola Warren Shoup in Minneapolis, MN. He grew up attending school in Des Moines, IA and graduated from East High School in 1962.

Newell was employed by several trucking companies for over 50 years and at The Record Shop at Park Fair Mall where he honed his love of music. He ran the concession stand at the Boone Race track for many years. He owned and operated Newell’s Concession for 50 years at the Iowa State Fair and many other events to include the National Balloon Classic (Indianola), the Polk County 4-H Fair, the Good Guys Car Show, and the Pork Expo. In the 1960s, he was the President of the Merle Haggard fan club and got to know Merle, and Buck and Bonnie Owens. He was also friends with Bobby Vee who he and Vernon befriended when Bobby performed at the Iowa State Fair. Newell had an extensive collection of 45 records and his model train setup was a marvel.

He loved his family, friends, parrots, rockabilly music, trains, and his cats.

Newell is survived by niece Cindy McClaskey, Abingdon, VA, nephews Jeff (Elisabeth) McClaskey, Miramar, FL; Tim (Diane) McClaskey, Springfield, MO; and sister-in-law Frances McClaskey, Abingdon, VA. He is also survived by many great nieces, nephews, cousins, good friends, and precious cats (Bentley and Edison).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Newell and Vernon Shoup; brothers Robert (Junior) McClaskey, Phillip (Tike) McClaskey, Dwight (Duke) McClaskey, niece Tracy Conley, and nephews Dennis and Brent McClaskey.

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