Martin Junior McNeelan, 88 of Whiteland, IN passed away on Sunday, February 25, 2024 at Community South Hospital, Indianapolis. Martin was born August 8, 1935 on the family farm near Holton. He was the oldest son of Martin H. and Laura Bell (Richardson) McNeelan. Martin attended Holton elementary and Holton High School graduating in 1953. On January 23, 1954, Martin married his high school sweetheart Beverly Ann Jackson. The couple celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2014.
Following graduation, Martin farmed, raised polled shorthorn cattle, chickens and hogs. He also ran a custom hay/straw bailing operation in the community. Martin also owned and operated four retail stores early in his career. The first two stores, “Little Big Dollar Store”, stocked a variety of merchandise $1 and under. The later stores carried a larger variety of household, sporting goods, bait and clothing items. Upon selling the retail stores, Martin was a regional sales representative for Do All Industrial for 10 years. This created a desire for Martin to own his own industrial machinery business. Martin purchased American Machinery and Tool Company, which operated in Indianapolis for almost 25 years. After the closure of American Machinery and Tool, Martin obtained his real estate license working under the Re-Max Company in Greenwood for almost 20 years prior to retirement.
Martin filled up every free minute with an activity. He loved his family, hunting whitetail deer, moose, elk, turkey, bear, caribou, squirrels, rabbits and quail. Additional interests were in horses, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, reading, gardening, horses, and flying. Martin was also a collector of Indian artifacts, guns, knives and antiques. Martin was a 50+ year member of the Holton Masonic Lodge and attended the Community Congregational Church in Franklin.
Survivors include his children: Becky Pulley (Andrew) of Homosassa Springs, Fl, Babs Hull (Mike) of Greenwood, IN, Martin J. McNeelan (Jacqueline) of Franklin, Mikel McNeelan of Belleair, Fl and Brenda Fields (Jerry) of Whiteland, IN; 13 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren. Martin is also survived by his brother James McNeelan (Carolyn) of Holton and sister Alice Rayburn (Ronnie) of Holton and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, his parents, Martin and Laura McNeelan and brother, Dwayne McNeelan.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, February 29 at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Pastor Dan McLaughlin and Pastor Peter Helland officiating. Burial will be in the Holton Cemetery. Visitation will also be on Thursday beginning at 12 p.m.
Memorials may be given to the Holton Cemetery or the American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at skfuneralhome.com.