David Paul Matt, 72, of Fishers, Indiana, passed away suddenly on Feb. 10, 2017.

He was born March 4, 1944, in Austin, Minnesota, to the Rev. Joseph H. Matt, Jr. and Della M. (Stehn) Matt. He graduated from Austin High School. David attended and worked for Miltonvale Wesleyan College in Kansas. He graduated with a master’s degree from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma. He was ordained as a minister of the Wesleyan Church in 1969. While in the U.S. Army, he served as a chaplain’s assistant at Walter Reed Medical Center. David worked at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and served the Lord as a missionary in Papua New Guinea, started a Wesleyan Church in Sheridan, Wyoming, and pastored at Crane Chapel in Austin, Minnesota.  He worked as an activity director in nursing homes in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Indianapolis until he retired in 2007. He was active in teaching Bible stories to Cubbies (preschoolers) in the weekly Awana program until his passing.

David is survived by his loving wife, Nancy; daughters, Kathy Davis and husband, Tim, and Heather Shoemaker and husband, Stephen; and grandchildren, Kelvin Davis, Zachary Davis, Kayla Shoemaker, and Alec Shoemaker; mother, Della (Stehn) Matt; and sister, Barbara Fullingim and husband, Mike; nephew, Jeremy Fullingim and wife, Melanie; and niece, Kristina Arguello and husband, Daniel; and 11 great-nieces and great-nephews. He also had many adopted sisters, children, and grandchildren. David was preceded in death by his father, Joe.  He never judged anyone but loved everyone unconditionally, just as Christ loved him. He leaves a legacy of love, laughter, and hope.