Neil Martin

Neil H. Martin, age 97, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. A family led visitation will be on November 22, 2025, at 1:30 pm at the Bangor Liberty Friends Church, 1260 Hopkins Avenue, Union, Iowa, with a family led memorial service to follow at 2:30 pm. Burial will be in the Bangor Friends Cemetery. Memorials should be directed to the Bangor Liberty Friends Church, Bangor Cemetery Association or the Marshalltown Men’s Chorus

He was born on December 18, 1927, in the hospital in Eldora, Iowa, becoming the sixth child of John and May (Hawk) Martin. The early years of his life were spent on the dairy farm in New Providence, Iowa where he learned to be up at the crack of dawn to milk the cows, a habit which stuck with him long after he left the dairy. Reading was a very popular pastime in the home, and he could always be found with a book during times of relaxation.

During World War II there was a shortage of young, able-bodied men in New Providence. Four of Neil’s older siblings were already in military service, and this was the case in families throughout the community. At the age of 16, he joined the local fire department and continued to serve until he moved out of the community 13 years later. He remembers going to one fire where they were unable to save the family in the home, a memory he carried the rest of his life.

In 1945 he graduated from New Providence High School and went on to attend one year at William Penn College. His second year out of high school he started at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa but quickly lost interest and returned to farm with his father.

In high school Neil went on a double date with his best friend, Joe Conrad. They took out the Parsons twins from Union, Iowa. The boys were quite confident at the start of the date, but halfway through the evening each realized he wasn’t with the girl he thought. This worked well for Neil as he continued to court and eventually marry Frances Jean Parsons on June 25, 1949, at the Marshalltown Friends Church, Marshalltown, Iowa. The wedding was unique in that Frances’ twin sister, Donna, married the same day and they had a double ceremony.

Neil and Frances started married life on the farm in New Providence and this was where their three sons were born. In 1956 they had an opportunity to move to Frances’ family home near Union. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was a bigger farm and without the dairy operation, less demanding. Neil said it was particularly hard on his father who had spent his life building a nationally recognized, top producing Jersey herd and now that would come to an end.

Neil and Frances purchased a home in Marshalltown, Iowa and moved in December of 1989. In 1995 Frances was diagnosed with a brain tumor and he cared for her in the home until she passed in 1996.

In 1998 he married Peggy (Knox) Stanfield. They continued to make their home in Marshalltown, Iowa. They enjoyed travelling together, including trips to Alaska, Hawaii and a river cruise in Europe. Peggy remarked that he was a great support to her children with many happy memories.

Neil loved music his entire life and performed vocal solos at hundreds of weddings, funerals and public events. On the farm the radio was always tuned to classical music and every Saturday he would listen to the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts. He sang in the very first performance of Handel’s “Messiah” in Marshalltown, Iowa and continued to participate in that event for the next 50 plus years. Neil joined the Marshalltown Men’s Chorus and sang with them for over twenty years.

Neil was active in the farming community. He was a lifelong Farm Bureau member and served as vice-president and president of the Marshall County group and was a voting delegate to the national convention. He was also active in the Lawn Hill COOP and served on the board including being president and voting delegate.

He was a lifelong member of the Friends (Quaker) church starting in New Providence, Iowa. In 1960 he transferred his membership to the Bangor, now Bangor Liberty Friends Church. He has served the church in many capacities including monthly meeting clerk, ministry council clerk, treasurer for over twenty years, youth group sponsor and Sunday school teacher. He was also active with the Bangor Cemetery Association.

Neil is survived by his wife, Peggy (Knox) Martin, three sons, Reg (Melidy) and Michael (Charlene) Martin of rural Union, Iowa and Bruce (Barbara) Martin of Ames, Iowa. Stepchildren Paryn Stanfield of Council Bluffs, Iowa and T. J. Stanfield (Mari) of rural Beaman, Iowa. Grandchildren Bryce (Kristen) Martin, Paul (Emily) Martin and Morgan (Mario) Martinez, Andrea Martin, Derek (Samantha) Martin, Tarin Martin (Chad Shonkwiler), Angela and Jon Elliot Brones, Lydia (Victor) Habib, Daniel (Lindsay) Martin, Jacob (Mia), Bekah, Emma, Zach, Tyler (Carol) and Ria Stanfield. Great grandchildren Saryah, Caleb, Leyton and Addilyn Martin, Emery and Jeb Martin, Mia and Noah Martinez, Rainier, Amara and Everest Cummings, Emmaline and Maxwell Martin, Charlotte Martin, Steele Brones, Hadley Martin, Elliot, Nova, Melania, Violet, Delmar and Malie Stanfield.

Neil was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Frances, five siblings, Alice, Gilbert, Willard, Jeanette and Luanna.