Martin Nagelkirk

Martin Nagelkirk, 70, of Holland MI, formerly of Applegate, MI, peacefully passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024, with his family by his side. Martin was born October 8, 1953, to Preston “Pep” and Shirley (Albers) Nagelkirk. He graduated from Holland Christian High School in 1972, earned a bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from Michigan State University (MSU) and a master’s degree in Agronomy from Cornell University. In 1979, he married Joan Mulder of Holland. Before they married, Martin worked on cattle/horse ranches in Wyoming and Montana, and sheep ranches in Australia. Martin and Joan spent their first 8 years in Onondaga County, NY, where Martin was employed as an agricultural extension agent for Cornell. In 1987, they moved to Sanilac County, Michigan, where he worked for MSU as an agricultural extension agent and director of the local MSU Extension office. He retired in 2019. He was known by all who worked with him for his humor, broad knowledge base and strong desire to be a trustworthy resource and advocate for producers. Martin and Joan recently moved back to Holland to be near family after he received a cancer diagnosis in 2023. Martin’s greatest loves were God’s gifts of family and the great outdoors. His greatest joy was hunting with sons, nephews and good bird dogs, recently going to South Dakota for the hunting trip he had always dreamed of. Martin lived every day with a sense of wonder in nature and in return it gave him profound peace. He will be remembered for his generous spirit, wry humor and unassuming nature. He was preceded in death by a niece, Audrey Meeuwsen, brother, Bob Nagelkirk, his parents, Pep and Shirley Nagelkirk, and his brother-in-law Steve Mulder. Martin will be dearly missed by his wife of 45 years, Joan; their children and grandchildren, Paul Nagelkirk of Belfast, Maine, Ryan Nagelkirk of Temple, Texas, Grant (Camille) Nagelkirk (Mason, Lily, Owen) of Chelsea, Michigan; siblings, Dennis (Michele) Nagelkirk, Jill (Bill) Meeuwsen; in-laws, Carol Nagelkirk, Bruce and Debbie Mulder, Brent and Beth Mulder; and many nephews and nieces. Visitation will be from 11am-12:45 pm Saturday, September 21, 2024, with Martin’s funeral service to follow at 1 pm at Yntema Funeral Home, 251 South State Street, Zeeland. Memorial contributions may be made to Pheasants Forever. www.pheasantsforever.org

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Martin Nagelkirk

October 8, 1953 - September 15, 2024