Daniel Aaron LaPoint

Daniel Aaron LaPoint was born on April 28, 1985, and was called home to Heaven on July 25, 2026, at the age of 41. Daniel was living and working in Meridian, Idaho, when he passed away suddenly from a heart attack.

Daniel was a beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, partner to Jessica, dog dad to Charlie Bear, and a dear friend to so many. His life was a gift, and his sudden absence has left an immeasurable place in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved him.

Daniel was born at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California, and grew up in Atherton, California, the son of Ken and Annie LaPoint and brother to Chris and Joanna. From the very beginning, Daniel was a happy, friendly child with a wonderful sense of humor. He had a creative spirit and a natural ability to make people laugh.

As a teenager, Daniel discovered his love for music. He played bass and guitar and also taught himself to play the drums. Music would become an important part of his life and a gift he would continue to share with others for many years.

Daniel graduated from The King's Academy in 2003 and later attended Henry Cogswell College, where he studied filmmaking.

At the age of 21, Daniel faced and won a battle with testicular cancer. Following that difficult season, he spent several years living and working at Hume Lake Christian Camps. He attended the Joshua Wilderness Institute and later helped lead and run the Wagon Train Camp for children at Hume Lake. There, he was known to many as the one and only "Boone," a nickname that followed him across many adventures in his life.

Daniel loved Hume Lake and the people there. He spoke, led worship, taught children, and found many opportunities to serve and encourage others. His love for Jesus and his desire to help people became a defining part of his life. Daniel was a gifted speaker who understood well how to deliver knowledge. He was a master image-maker, wrapping the lesson in a deliberate, well-formed message, and often used metaphor unique to the recipient for which it was intended. This would translate well into his career as a psychotherapist, where his gift for conceptualizing truly helped clients untangle the struggles of life.

Through Hume Lake, Daniel also traveled with ministry teams to places around the world, serving and encouraging missionary families and churches in New Guinea, Africa, Israel, Thailand, and other places. He loved experiencing different cultures and meeting people, but most of all, he loved being able to serve others and share his faith. Some of the coolest memories he'd share were of his travels abroad, whether walking a path with a Kenyan tribesman carrying a goat leg strapped to his backpack or exploring life as a local would in a buzzing Thailand night market, Daniel embraced life's enriching experiences. He had even been skydiving, and loved it!

Daniel had a special love for Santa Cruz and the California coast, and after his years at Hume Lake, he moved there. He spent several years working in the coffee industry and made many lifelong friendships along the way. Daniel became deeply involved in the church community and served on various worship teams, sometimes traveling and performing with a close group of talented musician friends.

Daniel was a songwriter, musician, and gifted singer. He had a beautiful voice that captured the attention of those who listened, but more than that, music was one of the ways Daniel expressed his heart and connected with people.

During COVID, Daniel moved to Grass Valley, California, to be closer to his family. During this season, he worked hard to complete his Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies from Grand Canyon University. He also became involved with and helped to form and lead Team Caber in a worldwide men's group for the better part of a decade, forming some of the strongest bonds of brotherhood despite a world shutdown from itself. To this day, those men call Daniel "Brother" with a voice of love, strength, confidence, and pride.

It was also during this time that Daniel created his All Things Noble Podcast, a creative project that brought together many of the things he loved—his faith, Scripture, filmmaking, nature, and his desire to encourage others. He created beautiful videos of himself reading from the Book of Proverbs while capturing the beauty of God's creation around him.

In October 2022, Daniel moved to Meridian, Idaho, after accepting a job offer as an Operations Project Manager. While working full time, he continued pursuing his education, graduating in May 2025 with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwest University. Completing his Masters and becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor was a form of ministry he could offer the world, and he’d often say, "who pastors the pastors?” He took a strong interest in men's issues and begun networking with churches in the Treasure Valley. It was a beautiful blend of his skills, in the end.

In the spring of 2023, Daniel met Jessica Pharris, and the two fell in love. They were a wonderful match for one another, sharing a special connection, deep friendship, and unconditional love. Many things were bound to bring them together, they later learned. Unbeknownst to them, they lived in Los Angeles at the same time ten years prior, and Daniel almost moved into the same, brand new but small, apartment complex that Jessica moved into just one month prior to Daniel's arrival in Idaho. By the time they met in May, they lived only ten short minutes from each other, Daniel drove by her house every day to work without even realizing it, and he also attended the church directly behind her home occasionally. It was magnetic, their connection, and they quickly realized just how safe, calm, and peaceful their love was with each other. It was clear they were being brought together by God for this time and a purpose, something for which Jessica will forever be grateful. Their relationship continued to grow over the following years until Daniel's unexpected passing on July 25, 2026. His absence is undeniable and heartbreaking, but their relationship will be remembered for their infectious laughter, charisma, and shared wit, their shared love for music, live events, and cooking together, their commitment to partnership and each others' aspirations, their unending patience and protection of one another, the deeply purposeful care, trust, and love shared, and their amazingly special dates together making memories, even if all life called for was slow mornings with coffee or relaxing together with the pups while watching their favorite show.

In August 2025, Daniel opened Helm Psychotherapy in Meridian, Idaho, where he practiced as a therapist with Treasure Wellness Counseling & Training Center. Becoming a counselor and therapist had been an important goal for Daniel. He loved the work he was doing and was grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside people who were struggling and needed someone to listen, encourage, and help them through difficult seasons of life.

Daniel also brought his creativity and humor to another passion. In the fall of 2025, he reopened his balloon-twisting business, Boise Balloon Twisters, where he entertained children and families at parties and events. It was another way Daniel used his imagination and playful spirit to bring creativity, laughter, and joy to others.

Daniel touched more lives than can ever be counted, and it would be impossible to capture all the ways he loved, encouraged, served, and helped the people around him—even people he barely knew.

He had a remarkable ability to connect with people. Whether through music, ministry, counseling, creativity, humor, or simply taking the time to listen, Daniel had a way of making people feel seen and valued.

Daniel is survived by his parents, Ken and Annie LaPoint; his brother, Christopher LaPoint; sister-in-law, Deanne LaPoint; his sister, Joanna Middendorp; brother-in-law, Joshua Middendorp; his nieces, Ivy, Orla, Lillyanne, and Aryanna; his nephew, Connor; his beloved partner, Jessica Pharris, his sweet dog Charlie Bear; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends.

Daniel's life was far too short, but the love he gave, the lives he touched, the music, joy, creativity, and art he shared, and the faith he lived will continue to live on in all who knew him.

Our hearts are broken by the loss of our beloved Daniel, but we are incredibly grateful for the 41 years we were given with him. We will carry his love, his laughter, his music, his creativity, and his faith with us until the day we see him again in Heaven.

Well done, Daniel. Good and faithful servant.