Max B. Jessup

Max B. Jessup, 83, Spiceland, died December 26, 2020 after a long battle with vascular dementia.

Max was born in western, rural Henry County near Kennard. He was the son of Addison Lowell and Catherine (Compton) Jessup and was number nine of their twelve children. Max moved to Spiceland at approximately 16 years of age and resided there for the majority of his life. He was a 1955 graduate of Spiceland High School and was involved in Stinger athletics as an excellent distance runner for the cross country and track teams and was also a member of the basketball team. Max married Rosemary Miller on March 24, 1963. They were married for 51 years until Rosemary’s death in December 2014. They had one son, David.

Max was a long time employee of Draper, Inc. in Spiceland. He had time card No. 7, if that tells you anything. He worked at Draper from 1957 until retiring in 2009—52 years!! Max was also involved in local politics in various capacities and was elected Spiceland Township Trustee in the 1970s and later was elected to two terms on the South Henry School Corporation Board of School Trustees, serving from July 1985 through June 1993.

Max was an avid sports fan. He enjoyed racing of all kinds. He attended several races over the years ranging from multiple Indianapolis 500 races to the Daytona 500 to races at Mt. Lawn Speedway and many other venues. He was a lifelong fan of AJ Foyt, Jr. and cheered him on throughout his career. Go Number 14!!

Max enjoyed watching sports of all kinds, especially football and basketball, and followed various college and high school teams around the state and country. He traveled around the state to watch games involving family members—Ball State, when David attended; Brownsburg HS, when David worked there; Shenandoah HS, when his niece Chelsea played basketball; and of course local Tri High School to watch his nephew CJ and many others. He was a true fan of high school sports of all kinds and could discuss just about any local team and many others around the state, both past and present. In his later years, he enjoyed watching his granddaughter Faye run in cross country and track meets for Brownsburg. She got her running skills from Grandpa Max. Max and Rosemary were also original season ticket holders of the Indianapolis Colts and held those tickets for 10 years before “retiring” from the Colts. Many may not realize that Max was a bit of a music fan as well. He enjoyed mostly country music, but was also a big fan of Elvis Presley. In fact, he and his sister Nancy attended Elvis’s last concert ever at Market Square Arena on June 26, 1977. He was also an avid lawn mower, having one of the nicest lawns in Spiceland. He mowed a lot of other yards around town as well—always with a push mower.

Max’s immediate survivors include his son, David and daughter-in-law, Dr. Kat Jessup of Brownsburg; and his granddaughter, Faye, currently a cadet at the US Military Academy at West Point. Surviving siblings include, Sara Broadwater (Greenfield), Nancy Pennington (Indianapolis), and Joy Woodruff (Liberty). He is also survived by multiple nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Rosemary, and siblings, Martha Smalley, Iris Montgomery, Betty Young, Ruth Davisson, Robert Jessup, Dorothy Riggs, John Jessup and Eleanor Painter.

The family would like to thank the staff of Glen Oaks Health Campus for their great care of Max throughout his illness.

Due to the current COVID situation, a private funeral service for family only will be held at the Spiceland Friends Church with burial to follow in Circle Grove Cemetery in Spiceland. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged to be made to the Tri High School Athletic Dept., 6972 S. SR 103, Straughn, IN 47387. You may express condolences or share a memory of Max at www.hinsey-brown.com .

***You may view the service live at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 29 by Clicking Here .