Tack

Newton G. “Newt” Tack, 83, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2025.

He was born Feb. 4, 1942, to the late Homer M. Tack Sr. and Eleanora M. (Garing) Tack.

Newt was a businessman, entrepreneur, inventor and teacher. Most of all, he was a man of faith, friendship and family. Newt was a lifelong member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.

From his teenage years, Newt was a part of the Tack family’s legacy of excavation, demolition and construction, owning and operating multiple companies, including Homer Tack and Sons and Newton Tack and Sons. He was also the owner of Call Jenny, Inc., the first one call system in Butler County. Newt’s proudest business accomplishment, however, was Tack Operator Training, an on-site training facility for hundreds of aspiring excavation operators. Throughout its 18 years of operation, Newt used his natural teaching talent to shape the future of many who remember him fondly and continued to reach out to him and share their successes that began with his instruction.

Newt’s claim to fame was the invention of the “Lavatory Retriever,” a device that he patented and marketed that would return a toilet seat to its lowered position.

From the late 1950s throughout the early 1970s, Newt raced stock cars and flagged for the Butler Speedway at the Butler Fairgrounds. Throughout his life, he was an avid hunter and loved spending time in the woods with his family, especially his sons. He also enjoyed several memorable hunting trips to Montana and continued to tell stories of these adventures many years later.

Newt was a 1960 graduate of Butler High School. He was a good friend to many and loved sharing stories of his boyhood and high school antics that often included his brothers, cousins (especially Rick), and friends (especially his best friend, DeWayne).

Newt met the adorable Mary Ellen Leight in first grade. At the time, however, he thought she was just a silly girl. They would later attend high school together and marry in 1965. They shared everything together for almost 60 years, including raising a family, business ventures, countless pool parties and traveling. Newt and Mary Ellen enjoyed visiting Hawaii, as well as taking Caribbean cruises and bus trips. He always looked for other Pittsburghers and Steelers fans when traveling.

Newt is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen; three children, Daniel M. Tack (Stephanie), Donald M. Tack (Deb) and Jennifer L. Tack-Henne (Rob); eight grandchildren, Brendan Henne, Megan Tack, Luke Henne, Ethan Tack, Cami Tack (Brian), Katie Tack, Jordan Henne and Rachel Henne; two great-grandsons; a bonus daughter, Dottie Loeffler; and bonus grandchildren, Michael Sheptak (Melissa), and Kristyn Caliguire (Marc); as well as multiple nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Newt was preceded in death by his brothers, John A. Tack, David H. Tack Sr., Homer M. Tack Jr.; and a sister, Eleanora A. “Cis” Tack.

TACK — Friends of Newton G. “Newt” Tack, who died Thursday, May 15, 2025, will be received from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, May 19, at THOMPSON-MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 124 E. North St., Butler.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 W. Jefferson St., Butler, with the Rev. David M. Phillips officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 W. Jefferson St., Butler, PA 16001, stmarksbutler.org.

All who knew Newt are encouraged to share memories and upload photos to his unique remembrance page at www.thompson-miller.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.