J. Neil Clark

J. Neil Clark, 85, of New Castle passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. He was born on February 18, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan to the late Joe Wade Clark and Bertha (Hale) Clark-Wolkersdorfer.

He was a 1958 graduate of Cass Technical High School in Detroit, specializing in the automotive curriculum. He earned his Associate of Science degree from Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn in 1967. Neil earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Oakland University in Rochester in 1979. He later obtained a real estate broker's license. While attaining these accomplishments, Neil simultaneously worked as an automotive engineer for General Motors, raised his first 6 children, and built a large house for them.

Neil later met and married his forever love, Lori (Oswald) Clark, on August 2, 1980. While raising their two children, his automotive related employment sent him to live in Louisiana, back to Michigan, and then to Ohio. During these years, their travels involved visiting family around the country and a trip to Europe. He enjoyed his last three cruises with one of his favorite authors to destinations in his books. Upon his final retirement, Neil and his wife followed their youngest daughter to live in Indiana to enjoy their four youngest grandchildren.

Some of his activities early in life included being an active member and treasurer of the Jaycees in Ortonville, Michigan; stock car racing; fishing and hunting; and active methodist church member. Later in life, he volunteered for Life Connection of Ohio promoting organ donation registration; became a member of the Huber Heights Masonic Lodge and continued serving with the lodge in New Castle; and became an avid non-fiction reader. Neil had many skills including being a master handyman with the ability to make any household or automotive repairs. His Indiana grandchildren relished his ability to fix their broken toys and help with 4H projects.

Neil is survived by his wife of 45 years, Lori (Oswald) Clark; 7 children, Natalie (Bryan) Yanos, Jacqueline (Brian) Porter, Constance Clark, Ronald (Venus) Clark, Karen (Timothy) Johnson, Neil Robert Clark, Lana (Charles) Abraham; 19 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and 9 great-great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his son, Ian Clark.

Visitation will be Monday, March 23, 2026, from 11AM-1PM at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 535 S. 14th Street, New Castle, Indiana. Funeral service will follow at 1PM. Burial will be Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Noon at Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery 8135 N. Dixie Drive, Dayton, Ohio. Donations can be made in his memory to Life Connection of Ohio https://www.life connection.org/charitable -contributions. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle. You may share a memory or express a condolence for Neil at www.hinsey-brown.com.