BEFORE LIFE insurance became his calling, Daniel Coe built his life around another kind of promise — faith, family, and the steady work of service. His journey back home begins far from Tennessee, on the sunwarmed hills of Israel, where he met a woman whose compassion changed the course of his life.
BUILDING A LIFE ABROAD
Julia was from Germany, a young woman drawn to serve others and deeply moved by the history and people of Israel. Daniel met her while both were engaged in ministry work. Their shared sense of faith and service formed a bond that would carry them across continents.
They married in Germany and then returned to the United States, where they welcomed two daughters before moving to Israel, where two more children joined their growing family. The Coes spent nearly six years there, working as church planters, forming friendships across cultures, and learning modern Hebrew.
Life in Israel was busy and full. Their children attended public school, and Daniel and Julia built a rhythm that balanced work, faith, and family. Then, just six weeks after the birth of their fourth child, that rhythm was abruptly interrupted. Julia discovered a lump that led to a diagnosis no young family expects — breast cancer.
A SUDDEN RETURN HOME
Within days of hearing the news, the Coes left Israel and returned to Tennessee, where Julia began chemotherapy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The transition from ministry life abroad to the world of hospitals, specialists, and medical treatment was swift and jarring.
Through the following months, friends, relatives, and community members rallied around the family. Daniel’s parents stepped in to help care for the children, manage the household, and keep daily life as steady as possible.
For a time, there was reason to hope. The first round of treatments seemed promising. But as months passed, the cancer became more aggressive, spreading despite surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. Julia met every challenge with quiet resolve. Even in the face of illness, she continued to support and encourage those around her, leaving a lasting impression on the hospital staff and fellow patients.
In July 2024, Julia passed away at age 35. Her funeral was held at Fairview Church in Lebanon, where family and friends gathered to celebrate her life of devotion and grace.
FINDING PURPOSE AFTER LOSS
The months that followed were filled with adjustment and reflection. Daniel and his four children — Olivia, Naomi, Micaiah, and Josiah — remained in Lebanon, supported by family and friends. The children, who had once attended public school in Israel, are now in private school and a homeschool tutorial, a change that allows the family to heal.
Daniel’s parents continue to be a steady presence, helping with transportation to and from extracurriculars, meals, and the logistics of raising four young children. Their support, he said, has been vital to rebuilding a sense of normalcy.
Professionally, Daniel found himself drawn toward a new kind of ministry — one focused on helping families prepare for life’s uncertainties. Having experienced firsthand the challenges that come with illness and loss, he chose to pursue a career in life insurance.
PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST
Today, Daniel works as an insurance agent in Lebanon, helping families navigate the practical side of financial security. His work centers on providing coverage that safeguards loved ones in times of crisis — from college savings and mortgage protection to simply providing peace of mind for the future.
His decision to enter the field stemmed from a hard-earned understanding. Facing the loss of a spouse at a young age revealed how unprepared many families are for the unexpected. Daniel approaches each client with empathy and care, hoping to make difficult topics easier to face.
While his career has changed, the core of his life’s work remains the same — caring for people. In a quiet, practical way, his efforts continue the legacy that he and Julia built together — serving others through compassion, faith, and action.
HOLDING ON TO HOPE
At home, Daniel’s life is centered on his children and the routines that sustain them. Their days include playtime, outdoor activities, and grandparents. In many ways, the household reflects the values that have always guided them — faith, perseverance, and gratitude for the community that continues to surround them.
Daniel’s focus now is on the future: raising his children in a nurturing environment, building a secure financial foundation for college tuition and the children’s big dreams, as well as ensuring they grow up knowing both the strength of their mother’s example and the support of those who loved her.
He believes that purpose can be found even in hardship, and that caring for others remains one of the most meaningful ways to honor a life well-lived.
A QUIET LEGACY
Julia Coe’s influence endures in her husband’s new work, in her children’s resilience, and in the many lives she touched during her years of ministry and illness alike. Her story, and Daniel’s, is one of endurance through heartbreak and of finding grace in responsibility.
From the bustling busyness of life in Israel to the quiet neighborhoods of Lebanon, Daniel Coe continues to build a life defined not by loss but by love that persists. Through faith, family, and the simple act of helping others prepare for tomorrow, he is rebuilding what was once broken — one day, and one life, at a time. GN
