Nathan Todd Daniels

Nathan passed away November 22nd at the age of 49 in Caldwell in a tragic accident. He was born in Caldwell, the third generation of native Caldwell folks on January 29th, 1973. Nathan is the only child of Roger and Patsy Daniels of Greenleaf, Idaho. He attended school at West Canyon Elementary and continued in the Vallivue School District, graduating in 1991 with honors. While there, he participated in football, band, rodeo club, and FFA. His senior year he lost class president by one vote. Nathan met and married the love of his life Michaela Littlefield in high school, and they were married June 14th, 1991. In 1995 they welcomed their first child, their daughter Aspen on December 25th. In 1999 they then welcomed the final piece to their family when their son Reid was born on February 23rd.
Nathan had a love for hunting and fishing, some of his favorites being waterfowl hunting. He shared many memories with his lifelong friend Tad from childhood on into adulthood. They shared many of those same memories with his father and children.
He started cooking his freshman year of high school at Olga’s restaurant (now the Sunrise café) which began his lifelong love for cooking and meeting people. (His grandmother had him making homemade bread at age 4) He later worked at Ziggy’s Lumber, then he joined his dad in the new Ford business at Meridian Ford. Shortly thereafter he was offered a better position at Dan Wiebold Ford where he was inventory manager, sales manager, and then used car manager over the 15 years that he worked there. In 2008 he was hired by a dear friend to help farm their ground near Notus. He continued that until, in 2015, he got the chance to follow his dream and open a café of his own. Thus became the “Nathan’s Greenleaf Café”.
In December of 2020 his dream of one small town café became two when he was able to open a second location in small town Kendrick, Idaho. Through the learning and struggles that comes with running a café, Nathan never stopped trying to take care of everyone and making sure to greet anyone who came through his doors with a smile. His staff became a part of his family and many of the customers did as well, so much so that they were referred to as his “Café Family”. After many years of leasing the Greenleaf café, the lease was up, the struggles that came with that, and the declining economy, forced them to think about closing their doors. Resoundingly, the community and the “Café Family” came forward and said “NO!”. The donations that were made blessed beyond measure and touched them more than anyone would know. Nathan and his family were able to keep the Café open.
Nathan’s other café was a different adventure. He was able to be in the mountains, which he loved. He could go hunting and just see the wildlife whenever he wanted to take a drive. He found a new love in bartending there as their other café includes a bar. He made countless new friends there in the 2 short years that he was able to be up there with them, as in Greenleaf, he became the epicenter of the community.
Charity and a huge heart were so important to Nathan. He got the idea in 2016 to start a car show to raise money for Greenleaf Friends Academy/Church/Historical society/Veterans Organizations and other various people in the area. This summer will mark the 6Th Annual Nathan’s Greenleaf Café Car show. He also started a Car show in Kendrick Idaho at his other café. Aside from the car shows, Nathan always had a Christmas wish tree at the Greenleaf location for local children and families in need of help for Christmas. Nathan loved Christmas so very much and a huge fear of his was having a local child wake up Christmas morning without presents under the tree.
Nathan was The Best Father any child could have asked for. They have so many wonderful memories with him from; countless hunting trips, watching Steelers Football, and movie days watching Star Wars and the Hobbit. He taught them how to be handy, how to be strong, and how to love like he did. There are so many countless memories laughing and enjoying time with family. He loved his children completely and was so very proud of them. His first grandchild, Weston was welcomed into the world in 2018 and was one of his greatest joys. He never failed to bring a new dinosaur for his “Little Dude” and ensured that he got all the snuggles that he could get. His grandson is named after him and will always know how much his “Grumpa” loved him. Not only did his own children never wonder how much they were loved, but his heart was so big that he had many children that he has “adopted” over the years and he loved them so much as well and was always there for them if they needed him.
His love for his wife Michaela is one that will be written in the stars and defy the ages. They knew that they were meant to be right from the start and that never changed. The love that they have is a love that many people aspire to have. They never stopped having adventures and making the best of any situation, they lived a life full of laughter and love and have been married for 31 years.
Being the only child, Nathan was very close to his parents and always worried and cared for his mother and father. He loved them whole heartedly and they did everything as a family. He spent any chance possible making memories with them and spending time together. He always greatly admired and respected his parents and learned from them every chance that he got. The Café was something that really brought the family together in one location. Almost all the immediate family has worked there at one point or another. He was able to work alongside Michaela’s mother for several years as well before she passed and was able to make more memories with his In-Laws to add to all the ones from the 30+ years of being married and a part of their family.
He is survived by his wife Michaela Daniels, his daughter Aspen (and son-in-law Cody) Quenzer, son Reid Daniels, grandson Weston Todd Quenzer, his mother and father, sister-in-law Amy Watson and her children, father-in-law Dean Littlefield, and God parents Lorin and Janet Wallace.
Nathan had so many friends and family that he loved and there would just be too many to list here.
Nathan’s Greenleaf Café will be his legacy, and his family will do their best to keep it running to make Nathan proud. His spirit will always be there with his Café family and in the hearts of his family. Nathan touched so many lives and every one of his family members is so very proud and feels so blessed to have had the time that we had with him, even though everyone would argue that it was way to soon.
The services will be held at Greenleaf Friends Academy in the Gymnasium on December 17th at 10:30am. There will be a full lunch reception after the ceremony which will take place in the School’s Cafeteria. If anyone would like to donate in lieu of flowers, that can be made to Michaela and family, or can be made to Greenleaf Friends Academy in Nathan’s name.
As a footnote, the family requests that in Nathan’s Honor you dress casually and if possible incorporate either Camouflage, Steelers Jerseys, Star Wars or Snoopy in your Attire.