David La pointe

Former Lake Havasu State Park Supervisor, David A. La Pointe passed away peacefully in his home on July 15, 2026. Most recently, Dave's friends knew him best for his hunting and fishing stories while accompanying his dogs, Bucky and Sophie, to their daily playtime at SARA Park.

Born September 12, 1939 in Port Huron, Michigan, Dave was the son of Martin Sr. and Madeline La Pointe. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Martin La Pointe Jr. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dianne La Pointe, their son Hunter La Pointe of Lake Havasu City, and his daughter Heather Hayes, a Golden Valley, AZ resident and teacher for the MALC school system in Bullhead City, AZ. Also dear to his heart were his son-in-law Roy Hayes, his nieces Anne-Marie Davis and Kelli Miley, his nephew James La Pointe, and his great-nephew Elijah Nix.

Dave grew up on the St. Clair River in Marysville, Michigan. He graduated from Marysville High School in 1957. After a year of college, Dave joined the Army and was stationed in Europe with the Army Corps of Engineers from 1958 to 1961. He was always proud of his military service and occasionally saw Elvis Presley on his base.

In the summer of 1962, Dave began working as a summer park ranger to put himself through college. He met his true love that summer, cleaning fresh-caught perch in Tahquamenon Falls State Park (MI. As a park ranger, he must have been impressed with her catch, because after chatting with her dad, he invited her for a canoe ride on the Tahquamenon River. That was the beginning of their 62 year adventure.

Dave graduated with a B.S. degree in wildlife biology and was employed as an Assistant Park Manager at Holly State Recreation Area in Michigan. He loved his work and seemed destined to continue his career with state parks, so he returned to Michigan State . and completed his M.S. degree in resource management and recreation in 1970.

At that time, he accepted an assistant manager's position at Porcupine Mountains State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on Lake Superior. It was an outdoorsman's dream job with forest management, ski-hill management, hunting, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, and giant lake trout always waiting to be caught right outside his front door.

In 1973 he moved as park manager with his wife and, now, two children to historical Fort Wilkins State Park in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Once again on Lake Superior, he continued

to pursue hunting and fishing, as well as fulfilling his natural interest in history as over-seer of a historic fort and lighthouse. He was always the host for campers and guests.

One January day in 1980, with his snowmobile parked outside and snow piled above the windowsills of his office, he received a memo announcing an opening for a state park manager in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. A record 390.4 inches of snow had fallen the winter before the family left the upper peninsula. The ground was still covered with snow in May.

They arrived in Lake Havasu shortly before Memorial Day weekend. Dave found himself in the fast lane learning new flora and fauna as well as adapting to new temperatures and a different style of park guests who sometimes engaged his commissioned law enforcement officer training.

In Arizona, his career took him from Park Manager to Regional Manager of the western region of the state. That included Yuma Territorial Prison, Yuma Crossing, Alamo Lake, River Island, Cattail Cove, Buckskin Mountain, and Lake Havasu, where he retired in 2001.

Dave's professional career with State Parks spanned 40 years. It allowed he and his family to reside near some of the most beautiful lakes and forests in the country. He considered himself a resource manager and lived his life providing public recreational opportunities and access to our beautiful natural resources while protecting them for all to enjoy.

From the Army rifle team and hunting, to participating as a member of the Blue Water Sportsmen's Association (MI) and the Lake Havasu Sportsmen's Club (AZ), he continued his love of the sport of shooting. Dave was also a writer, publishing articles on wildlife and writing novels for enjoyment. His loving spirit, his grin, his intellect and wealth of knowledge on most things historical and natural will be missed. He left us with cherished memories at age 86.