Martin, Timothy J. Memorial Scholarship Fund

Donor Fund Story:

Timothy J. Martin was born on March 19, 1956, in Evansville to Francis and Mary (Elpers) Martin.  Tim was raised in the countryside in Poseyville, Indiana.  He graduated in 1974 from Mater Dei High School in Evansville and received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and doctor of veterinarian medicine from Purdue University.

In 1977, as a junior at Purdue University he met Janell Frick, whom he married two and a half years later on June 16, 1979, in Wawaka, Indiana.  Janell was born July 1, 1956, in LaGrange, Indiana and raised in Wawaka.  Janell graduated from West Noble in 1974 and went on to graduate from Purdue in 1978 with a BS in Speech and Hearing.

Tim and Janell had three children – Emily (Chris) Bolognese, Amanda (Charles) Shepard, Daniel (Jamie) Martin and five grandchildren.

Tim was a quiet man…not much of a talker…modeled what he wanted his life to reflect to his children and those around him.  Tim worked as a veterinarian and also was employed by Frick Services in Wawaka.  Janell retired from Westview School Corporation.

Tim served on the West Noble Board of Education and had served on the West Noble Aids Advisory Council. Member of the West Noble Athletic Boosters, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ligonier, St. Patrick’s Parish Council, Noble County Pork Producers Association and the Indiana Veterinarian Medical Association and the American Veterinarian Medical Association.  Coached youth sports – Girls softball in Wawaka.

Janell has served as a member of the Community Foundation of Noble County’s supporting organization Community Initiatives, Inc. and was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.  She has also been a previous member of the United Way Board, WN Athletic Boosters, Noble County Pork Producers, and Noble House Board of Directors.

Some of Tim’s favorite things to do in his spare time was coaching…he loved to watch his kids participating in sports and other activities.  He was an avid Notre Dame fan, Cubs and Chicago Bears fan.  Janell loves to travel, knit, and enjoys just being with her kids and being a grandma is the best!

When asked what Tim appreciated about Noble County, Janell stated, “Tim – adapted to where I was from and threw himself into the church and school his kids attended.  Tim was also close to my father and jumped at the opportunity to be a part of Frick Services.  He grew up in a farming community and enjoyed being in the farming community here in Noble County.”  Sadly, Tim passed away in September of 2004.

When asked what she appreciated about Noble County, Janell stated, “I appreciate the support that my family received after Tim’s death and feel that I would have never gotten that if I had lived in an urban area.  The knowing of individuals well enough to have them come and be there for you in your time of need means so much.”

Janell created the Timothy J. Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Foundation because of Tim’s interest in becoming an educator.  His interest coupled with his love of being involved with children and coaching.  Janell feels that Tim would be honored to know that he has a son-in-law and daughter-in-law who are both educators.  She chose the Foundation to establish the fund because it was the logical choice for her.