Samuel Walter Sample, 83, of Indianapolis, Indiana passed away Friday, September 13, 2024 at home with his family at his side. He was born in Genoa, Nebraska on July 9, 1941, the son of Theodore Sample and Iva (Ellis) Sample. Sam grew up in Fullerton, Nebraska and graduated from Fullerton High School. He then attended Hastings College where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in 1963. Sam then attended the University of Nebraska where he earned his Master’s Degree in 1968. Sam married Jeanmarie Branch on March 4, 2000, and she survives.

Sam signed an NFL contract with the Washington Redskins in 1963, and participated in professional football for two years. He was inducted into the Hastings College Hall of Fame in 1995.

Sam has participated as a player or a coach at all levels: NAIA, Division II, Division I, and the NFL. He coached with Bill McCartney, the founder of Promise Keepers, at the University of Colorado. Sam was also an Assistant Coach to Jerry Pettibone at Northern Illinois University, and was an Administrative Assistant for Lou Tepper at the University of Illinois. Sam also coached at Dakota Wesleyan, Taylor University, Sterling College and Wayne State in Detroit, Michigan.

Sam was the State Director of the Indiana Fellowship of Christian Athletes for two years, and served as the President of Sports World Ministries, headquartered in Indianapolis, for eight years.

The Fourth Quarter is a project that God placed on Sam’s heart during his last few years at Sports World Ministries. Sam’s goal was to inspire men to keep going and to use every day that God gives them to finish strong.

Left behind to cherish his memory are: his loving wife of twenty-four years, Jeanmarie; daughter, Robin (Scott) Bacon; two sons Michael Sample and Scott Sample; Judy Ferguson Sample, the mother of his children; step-daughter, Becca Myers; grandchildren, Jacob (Jenna) Fulton, Anna (Tyler) Sahly, Luke Fulton, Rylee (Brad) Price, Trent Bacon, Tyler Bacon, Alexes Grafton Sample, Shelly Sample, Trista Sample, MJ Sample, Tristan Adams, Hunter Myers, Audra Myers, and Jonathan Myers; and seven great-grandchildren.

Sam was preceded in death by: his parents, Theodore and Iva Sample; a daughter, Michelle Fulton; son-in-law, Brian Myers; and brother, Jack Sample.

A Celebration of Life will be October 19, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Geist Christian Church-Mud Creek Campus, 8550 Mud Creek Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46256. An ice cream social is immediately following in the Great Hall.

In lieu of flowers, you can send a gift in Sam’s memory to: Sports World Ministries, Inc., 1919 S. Post Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46239, to help support the continued distribution of his devotional book and reaching young lives for Christ, or you may donate online below.

Neptune Society is in charge of cremation arrangements.