Max D Bucklin

Max Dorwin Bucklin, 92, of Ira died on Monday, December 25, 2023, at his home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at the Ira United Church. The family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, January 2, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Ira United Church or Union Chapel Cemetery may be left at the service or the funeral home.

Max, the son of Roy and Ethel (Miller) Bucklin, was born on June 25, 1931 in rural Baxter. He was a lifelong resident of the Ira area. On August 26, 1949, Max was united in marriage with Vela Hopkins in Marshalltown. Max owned and operated Bucklin Service and Supply in Ira for many years. Much of that business dealt with cars, including a gas station and auto body sales and salvage shop. He enjoyed researching cars, going to auctions and sales around the Midwest to buy them, and then return home to sell them to others for parts or as project cars. Max was also active in the Ira community serving on the Ira Community Association and being a part of the Ira United Church. Max loved tinkering in his shop, animals, flower gardening, spending time at the family cabin in Minnesota, and going on trips to Branson.

Max is survived by his wife, Vela Bucklin of Ira; children, Mike (Lula) Bucklin of Newton, Jack Bucklin of Ira, Connie (Steve) Wright of Ira, and Dorwin (Sandy) Bucklin of Ira; his grandchildren, Breanna Bucklin, David Bucklin, Bryan (Dana) Bucklin, Tim Wright, and Kevin (Megan) Wright; 10 great-grandchildren; his step-grandchildren, Gary (Jessie) Engle, Chad (Wendy) Engle, and Brian Engle and their families; siblings, LaVeda Weaver of Rush, Colorado, Dennis Bucklin of Baxter, and Kay Bucklin of Encinitas, California; and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Betty DeVault and Dorothy Bucklin; and a daughter-in-law, Camillia “Sam” Bucklin.

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