Daniel Owen Sampson

Daniel Owen Sampson, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and wonderful neighbor & friend to so many passed away on August 5th, 2026. He was born on July 24, 1975 to David and Kathleen Sampson and raised in Sandy, Utah. As a youth, Dan excelled at soccer and basketball; playing on many championship teams. He was an Eagle Scout. He attended Hillcrest High School in Midvale, Utah, graduating in 1993. In his undergraduate years, he attended the University of Utah. Dan was a member of the 1996-1997 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship Basketball team, coached by Rick Majerus. They finished Ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll that year. Dan graduated with his Bachelor’s of Behavioral Sciences. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cherry Hill Township, New Jersey. Dan met and married the love of his life, Michelle Molyneaux, on January 1, 2011 in Salt Lake City. They made their home in Cottonwood Heights. On December 24, 2013, they welcomed their son Ike. Dan’s career was spent as an underwriter in the medical malpractice insurance industry. He then worked as a school teacher at Bellavista Elementary, as well as a special education teacher at Albion Middle School. Dan’s passions included: basketball, hunting, fishing, hiking and camping, ATVs, fantasy football, attending U of U athletic events, outdoor education and wildlife projects and of course ice-cream. He loved attending his son’s sporting events and coaching. Dan, Michelle, and Ike were sealed for all time and eternity in the South Jordan Qquirrh Mountain Utah Temple on May 20, 2023. Dan’s influence and love for his students will be felt for generations to come. He loved serving other people especially in the great outdoors where he spent a lot of his time. His testimony of Jesus Christ and eternal families will carry us during our time of grief. We will greatly miss him until we see him again. He loved his nieces and nephews and had many fun times with them. 

Survived by Michelle Sampson (wife), Ike Sampson (son), Aiden Jiron (stepson), Kathleen Watkins (mother), Jane Sampson (stepmom), as well as Sharon and Michael Molyneaux (in-laws), and siblings Dennis Sampson (Michelle), Janice Hunt, Jeff Sampson (Lindsy). Proceeded in death by Afton McGarry (grandmother) and David Sampson (father). 

We express our heartfelt appreciation to Dan’s doctors and caregivers at Huntsman Mental Institute, Numinus in Draper, as well as healthcare providers in Salt Lake City. We also express our love and appreciation to the wonderful ward family that Dan, Michelle, and Ike belong to. The family is grateful to have wonderful neighbors and friends show immense love and support for Dan, Michelle and Ike. 

A visitation for family and friends will be held on both August 13th from 6:00pm-8:00pm and August 14th from 10:30am to 11:45am. The location for both visitations will be held at the Mill Hollow Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 2522 East 6710 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84121. Funeral Services will be held on August 14th, 2026 at 12:00pm at the Mill Hollow Chapel and live streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/live/uKqe1rwTf40.  A private family graveside service will be held on Saturday August 15th, 2026 at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery Cottonwood Heights Utah. If you would like to support the family, in lieu of flowers, please donate to the In Loving & Eternal Memory of Daniel Owen Sampson fund that will go directly to support Michelle and Ike in the coming years: https://gofund.me/fdba5e2ef