John James Maxwell
December 18, 1926 ~ November 4, 2022
John James Maxwell was born December 18, 1926, to John and Gladys (Zimmerman) Maxwell and died November 4, 2022. The oldest of seven children, he was a life-long southside resident and became “the patriarch” to a large extended family. He served in the U.S. Navy and attended Quincy College on the GI Bill. After working for American Fletcher National Bank for many years, he started his own public accounting practice in 1973.
Music, transportation systems, and service to others were his passions. He encouraged his children to sing, learn to play instruments and enjoy the arts, exposing us to free arts programming offered throughout the city. He knew the cross-country routes of many passenger trains and used IndyGo to navigate around the city well into his 90s. He also thoroughly enjoyed his “second career” volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul.
He was married to the former Margaret M. (Marge) Leonard for 68 years; she survives him. Additional survivors include his children Margaret Maxwell (John Krauss), John (Cindy) Maxwell, Jane (Randy) Hughes, Mary Maxwell (Bill Walsh), Tom (Sarah) Maxwell, and Catherine (Patrick) Bonadurer, as well as 10 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, siblings Michael Maxwell, Mary Jane (Bob) Biro, Paula (Roger) Koch, sister-in-law Carron Maxwell and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Vincent Maxwell, siblings Peter Maxwell, Thomas Maxwell, Therese Maxwell and sisters-in-law Mary Maxwell and Therese Maxwell.
Visitation will be Friday, November 11, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 2905 Carson Avenue, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Vincent de Paul at the same address.
Services entrusted to O’Riley Branson Funeral Service and Crematory, 6107 S. East Street, Indianapolis.
Please visit www.OrileyBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Prayers ❤️ߙϰߏ۰ߙϰߏ۰ߙϰߏۢݤ️
Wonderful, kind man! May God bless all of you and give you His peace.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, from Gwen Harden, Cheryl (Harden) Kelton and family and Robert J. Harden and family
What a wonderful next door neighbor/landlord. Always a pleasure to chat with. Blessing to the family!
We are thinking of your whole family. With love,
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss… Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Our warmest condolences, Gene & Leslie, Chris & Kate and kids
Such a nice man. I remember him well.
ߙϰߏ۰ߙϰߏ»
Our deepest heartfelt condolences ,for you and your family in your time of loss. May your father rest in peace.
Dear Aunt Marge and Cousins, We are thinking of you all and feel terrible that our whole family cannot be there with you. Hugs!
God’s Peace.
We are thinking of you.
Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.
Lit a candle in memory of John James Maxwell
John Maxwell loved trains. He was the head engineer of a wonderful family and a wonderful Life. Me and my family got to ride on John’s train for many years as his next door neighbor, the Ben Arney family. What an example of love and God’s blessings knowing and loving the Maxwell family. John engineered his family, his church community, and his neighborhood with integrity and true Christian love. So many memories to cherish. God has a special shiny locomotive just for John and I’m sure there will be many including my Joanne who are ready to ride with John again. God bless and send comforting hugs to Marge in the whole family. Hugs from the Arney family.
You are in our thoughts.
Dear Aunt Marge and Maxwell Cousins — I’m so sorry I was not able to be there in Indy for Uncle John’s (my godfather) wake and funeral. We are thinking of you all this weekend and cherishing our memories of him.
With love and hugs,
My prayers go out to Marge and all of John’s family. I just found out about his death. I enjoyed many years of knowing John, studying the Bible with him and several other men at Good Shepherd, and visiting with him and Marge. Thanks for the many pictures of John throughout the years; they brought back many memories. May John now enjoy the beatific vision and hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”