David Matthew Nokken

David Matthew Nokken, 45 of Nashville, TN, died peacefully on Saturday September 8, 2018, at IU Methodist Hospital surrounded by his mother and brother.

David was born on November 16, 1972 in Fargo, ND.  He graduated Moorhead High School in 1991, and from Moorhead State University 1995 with a degree in Music Industry.  David dedicated his life to his love of music.  He played bass in a number of rock bands during his high school and college years.  After college, David moved to Nashville to pursue a career in the music industry.  He gained a strong reputation as a good worker and a greater person working as a sound technician, and ultimately as a road and tour manager.  During his career, he had the good fortune to travel the world with a number of artists, including Steve Earle, Tim O’Brien, Altan, the Celtic Tenors, the High Kings, and Trampled by Turtles among others.  David made a big impression among those he worked with and those he met on his travels.  He earned professional respect from those with whom he worked, as he was one of the best at what he did.  Likewise, his kind soul, gentle spirit, and love of life earned him numerous friends around the world.

David was recently dealt a difficult hand being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  While receiving treatment with the goal to get him back home to Nashville, he suffered a setback from which he could not recover.  He made a brief improvement which allowed him to see that his mother and brother were there with him.  Though extremely sad, we are grateful he was able to leave us in peace and comfort.

David was preceded in death by his father, Orlow Peter Nokken (and his beloved bulldog Fenster).  He is survived by his mother, Beverly Joanne Nokken (Thompson) in Moorhead, MN; his brother and sister-in-law Timothy Nokken and Deborah Bahme, and his nephew, Nathaniel Nokken, all of Lubbock, TX.

A memorial service will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd on Monday September 24^th at 10:30 A.M.,  with visitation starting at 9:30 A.M.  David’s family requests that memorials in his name be made to the Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital Palliative Care Unit (https://www.iuhealthfoundation.org/donate?form=methodist), where he received compassionate and expert care in his final days.