David M. Clark

David M. Clark passed away from Parkinson's disease on the morning of August 29, 2026 in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the age of 83, after navigating the last years of his life with total grace and determination.

Born in the farmland of Garret, Indiana on March 30, 1943 to Amber and Don Clark, his family eventually moved to the larger city of Fort Wayne, where he attended North Side High School and went to the prom with his future wife, love of his life, and best friend, Carolyn.

For most of his life, if he was not riding horses, doing ministry and Hospice work, or quietly reading and practicing his Hebrew and Greek, Dave was playing and practicing his vintage trombones.

Dave loved music. An accomplished professional trombonist, one of his best childhood memories was receiving his own trombone as a gift—a big deal for his family. He later took private lessons for many years as a youth with composer and musician Richard Hickman, his future wife Carolyn's father. Dave played with concert orchestras, bands, and swing bands. Even with his advanced Parkinson’s, when he forgot how to play, he worked daily for hours upon hours and retaught himself. If you visited or called the house, you would be met with the sound of beautiful horn playing.

An avid learner, Dave earned his BA and MBA from Indiana University and a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary.

In 1966, Dave joined the Marines. He was stationed in the Mojave Desert in Barstow, California. While fortunate not to go to Vietnam, he was assigned the extraordinarily difficult job of writing letters to servicemen's families informing them of the death of their loved one— perhaps a precursor to the work he would do later with Hospice, supporting grieving families. Dave was a proud Marine and remained active in Veterans groups.

A man of deep faith, Dave answered his personal call in a variety of acts of service. In the last years of his life, Dave wrote and sent a thoughtful weekly email he sent out called “Meditation” which focused on Christ-centered prayer and scripture to contemplate and comfort anyone struggling. He left behind a notebook of these writings for his wife, Carolyn, to read and be supported by.

Rev. Clark, as some called him, served congregations in Colorado, Nevada, and California as a Lutheran pastor in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. A mentor to many, he was most involved with Stephen’s Ministry, a non-denominational caregiving program that provides caring support to people in crisis. His last career was as a Hospice Chaplain; he worked with families and individuals in both San Diego and Albuquerque. He continued as a highly esteemed Hospice volunteer, sharing his skills and gifts with those on their end-of-life journey. Dave was known for his gentle, caring, and kind work to support the dying, just listening and being with them. His Hospice friend and supervisor shared that Dave’s "strongest gift was quiet gentleness.”

Dave deeply loved horses and had a beloved horse named Lia for many years. He and horses seemed to understand each other, and he rode and got to know horses all over the West Coast and Southwest. Dave loved seeing the landscape, and if he wasn’t driving cross-country or riding a horse, he rode his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. From the farmlands of Indiana to the wide open desert of the Southwest, his life was filled with adventure.

He is survived by his beloved wife of over 50 years, Carolyn, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; his daughters, Christine and Christina and son-in-law Pete and granddaughter, Melu; and beloved nieces and nephews.

A contemplative and caring man who often wished to share something to help others, some of Dave's last words were, “Keep your eyes and ears open— hope is flying all around.” Dave leaves behind a legacy of faith and service, and he will be deeply missed.

A memorial will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026 in Albuquerque, New Mexico at Christ Lutheran Church. The family requests donations to Cloud Dancers Therapeutic Horsemanship, providing therapeutic support to children and youth with horses.