MATTHEW CARL BELL

BELL, MATTHEW CARL, 38, of Sanford, FL, passed away on Friday, September 3, 2010, in Dubai, UAE. He was born on January 11, 1972, in Tallahassee, FL, son of Nancy (Larson) and Frederick Bell. Matt grew up in Price, UT, and Eau Claire, WI. He graduated from North High School in 1990, and received his bachelor's degree in biology from UW-Eau Claire in 1997. While at UW-Eau Claire, he became a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 1997-2001 and was a member of the Masonic Temple. He had a great admiration for these three organizations. In January, 2000, Matt pursued his life-long dream of flying and began training at Comair Aviation Academy in Sanford, FL. Within a year, he attained all of the required ratings to became a Certified Flight Instructor and taught at CAA. In October of 2002, he accepted his first Commercial Pilot position with Chautauqua Airlines. His ultimate ambition was to fly cargo for UPS, and in 2006, he realized this goal when he was hired as a First Officer with UPS. Matt was united in marriage to Dawn Gorka on August 3, 1996, at First Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, WI. Matt was the very definition of integrity and kindness. He loved and held his family most dear, and truly treasured his daughter, Ava. He made many friends everywhere he went due to his gregarious personality, sense of humor and contagious laugh. He had an ability to make everything easy and enjoyable. His interests included airplanes, sports cars, war and political history, movies and running marathons. Matthew is survived by his wife, Dawn; daughter, Ava; mother, Nancy Bell; sister,
Michelle (Rodney) Sprinkle; nephews, Devin and Damien Sprinkle, aunt, Jackie (Robert) Rueber; uncles, Daniel (Dawn) Bell and Loren Jeck; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Fred Bell; grandparents, Lars and Cora Larson and Oscar and Emily Bell; aunts, Mary Larson and Mary Jeck. There will be a Funeral Service for Matthew Carl Bell at 3 p.m., on Sunday, September 26, 2010, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 3214 Golf Road, Eau Claire, WI, with Pastor David Anderson officiating. Interment will follow at Rest Haven Cemetery, town of Washington, Eau Claire County. Friends may call from 1 p.m. until the time of the service at the church. A reception for family and friends will follow the burial at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Holiday Inn in Eau Claire. Offer online condolences at
www.cremationsociety-wi.com. Stokes, Prock and Mundt Funeral Chapel, Altoona, is serving the family.