Michael P. Maxwell

Michael P. Maxwell, 91, architect, and long-time associate professor and professor emeritus for the Purdue University School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI, died March 14, 2024. Mike was born in Indianapolis on December 12, 1932, to the late John J. Maxwell (Mac) and late Gladys (nee Zimmerman) Maxwell.
 
Mike graduated from St. Roch Catholic School in 1946, Cathedral High School in 1950, and earned a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree from the University of Detroit College of Engineering in 1955. 
 
After serving three years in the United States Air Force as a commissioned officer, Mike returned to Indianapolis and met Mary Jean Kolker. Mike and Mary dated, and their friendship grew — culminated in marriage at St. Patrick Catholic Church on June 18, 1960. 
 
Mike and Mary built their home and raised four sons on the southside of Indianapolis, where the couple were among the earliest members of St. Jude Catholic Parish Church and School. As the family and neighborhood grew, Mike helped lead Boy Scout adventures, and CYO or Little League sports. 
 
After a long stint as an architect designing residential, commercial, religious and educational buildings, Mike began teaching architectural and construction technologies at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in 1977. Mike retired in 1997. He was also a 44-years-long member and past president of the Construction Specifications Institute. 
 
“Teaching was one of the favorite parts of my life,” Mike recently said. “I met good kids and enjoyed seeing them learn and progress down paths leading to life-long careers in the building industry.”
 
Mike is survived by his sons, Michael P. Maxwell Jr. (Sarah Fowler), John F. Maxwell (DeAnne), Andrew J. Maxwell (Patricia Clark) and Christopher D. Maxwell (Sheila), with seven grandchildren, Caroline Lee, Michael Maxwell III, Kit Maxwell, Sarah Maxwell, Daniel Maxwell, Nicole Maxwell, Andrea Maxwell (Jackson DeStefano), and two great-grandchildren, Kinley Maxwell and another due to be born this summer.
 
Siblings are his late brothers and sister John J. Maxwell Jr., Peter Maxwell, Thomas Maxwell and Therese Maxwell. Surviving siblings are Mary Jane Biro and Paula Koch.
 
Mike’s family would like to thank staff and residents at Altenheim Senior Living, and staff at Franciscan Hospice House, for their loving help.
 
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at O'Riley Branson Funeral Service & Crematory from 5:00pm-8:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, March 20, 2024  at St. Jude Catholic Church,
(5353 McFarland Road in Indianapolis), at 10:00am . Burial will be immediately following at St. Joseph Cemetery in Indianapolis.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to St. Jude Parish are suggested.  

Please visit www.orileybranson.com to share a memory of Michael or to sign the online register book.