Jack Peckinpaugh

1927 - 2021

On Wednesday night, June 30, 2021, Jack Peckinpaugh – husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend to many – went to be with the Lord at the age of 93 at Westminster Village in Muncie.

Jack was born on October 10, 1927 in New Castle, Indiana, the only child of Archie and Evangeline Peckinpaugh. Jack graduated from New Castle High School in 1946 and was the recipient of the their Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017. Jack then graduated from Ball State Teachers College in 1950 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration .

At a local dance, God was watching over Jack when he orchestrated the introduction to Thelma Ann Larkey. During their short courtship, Jack was drafted into the US Army. Consequently, they were married on a 24-hour pass on December 26, 1950. This began a 70-year partnership of love and commitment. They would have three daughters – Beth, Janie, and Kelli – to whom Jack was absolutely devoted as a father, provider and friend.

While in the Army, Jack attended Leadership School and Infantry Officer Candidate's School in Ft. Benning, Georgia, and was assigned to the 31 st Infantry Division. Jack served in the Korean War as a helicopter and fixed wing pilot with the 2 nd Infantry Division until he was released as a 1st Lieutenant in 1954.

Jack began his civilian career with Indianapolis Life Insurance Company in November 1954. Jack qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table his first full year in the business, 1955, and would maintain qualifying membership for 66 consecutive years. He served as the MDRT President in 1975, qualified for Court of the Table seven times and Top of the Table nine times (including as a charter member). Jack served as both State and National President of NALU (Now NAIFA). In 1970 he received the Hoosier Life Underwriter Award, which was renamed in his honor in 2001. He received the industry's highest honor, the John Newton Russell Memorial Award, in 2004. Jack's passion for helping families secure their financial future was contagious – his daughter Beth followed him into the profession and they were business partners of Peckinpaugh & Beasley, Inc.

Jack was a proud alumnus and supporter of his alma mater, Ball State University. He was President of the BSU Alumni Association from 1960-1961 and in 1962 was one of the founders of the Cardinal Varsity Club, serving as President for the first two years of the fundraising organization's history. Jack was awarded the "Distinguished Service Alumni Award" in 1971 and inducted into the BSU College of Business Hall of Fame in 1975. In January of 1979 he was appointed by Governor Otis Bowen to a four year term as a Trustee of Ball State University.

Service to his community and the residents of Delaware County was always very important to Jack. He served 12 years on the Muncie Community School Board of Trustees, three terms as a member of the Delaware County Council and four years as a Delaware County Commissioner. Jack was also a Past President of the Muncie YMCA Board of Directors and a Past Director of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. In 1972, Jack served as president of the Hillcroft Board of Directors. He believed the development and growth of Hillcroft was critical to the well-being and opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities in the Muncie area. Faith in God was important to Jack, and he was a member of Shawnee Heights Baptist Church for over 60 years, where he served as deacon, trustee, and church moderator. In 1993, Governor Evan Bayh awarded Jack the Sagamore of the Wabash in recognition of this service to his community and fellow citizens.

While Jack was known by many for his professional accomplishments and service to the community and his church, he will also be fondly remembered as a lover of animals, especially horses and dogs. Jack grew up working with Belgian draft horses and would later establish Kelli Acres Belgians to raise, breed, and show them. Jack served as the President of the Indiana Draft Horses Breeders Association and Past President of the ECI Livestock Breeders Association.

Jack was fond of the saying that "the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man" and generously opened his barn doors to friends (as well as strangers) so that people could experience for themselves the truth in those words. Beth and Janie (along with their spouses), as well as all of Jack's grandchildren, spent many hours on the farm with Jack, learning from both him and his horses. Jack believed dignity was to be found in hard work; for him it was nearly a religion. There were many young men and women mentored by Jack while they were employed at Kelli Acres.

On the farm, there was one staple beyond Jack – his daughter Kelli. The namesake of Kelli Acres, she served as its superintendent – a true "horse lady" as she likes to say – and these two were for more than 42 years the face of Kelli Acres Belgians. Best friends 'til the end, wherever Jack went, Kelli followed. Support for his grandchildren's scholastic and athletic activities was fundamental to Jack. He traveled the country to watch them participate and share in their successes.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Evangeline Peckinpaugh. He is survived by his devoted wife, Thelma; three children, Beth Beasley (husband: Mark Gray), Janie Allardt (husband: Brian), Kelli Peckinpaugh; six grandchildren, Jack Strombeck (wife: Laura), Sam Beasley (fiance: Priscilla Ervin), Caleb Beasley (wife: Ashley), Matt Allardt (wife: Zoe), Luke Beasley, and Abbie Conte (husband: Nick); and six great-grandchildren, Kaylee, J.P., Ellie, Grace, Hesher, and Norah.

Jack was, and always will be, a giant to us all. His love was boundless.

Services for Jack will be on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 1:00 pm in Union Chapel Church (the 180 Building) at 4622 N. Broadway Avenue, Muncie, IN. Burial will be immediately following services at Gardens of Memory, 10501 N. State Road 3, Muncie, IN.

His family is very grateful for the gentle and loving care provided to Jack by the nurses, aides, and social workers in Abbey Court.

Memorials would be appreciated to the following or a charity of the donor's choice: Hillcroft Services, Inc., 501 W Air Park Dr., Muncie, IN 47303 or www.hillcroft.org. Animal Rescue Fund (ARF), 1209 W. Riggin Road, Muncie, IN 47303 or https://munciearf.com.

Memories and messages may be sent to the family at www.meeksmortuary.com.