Nathan Earl Arnold, age 41, of Washington, Iowa, passed away on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the Washington County Hospital, surrounded by his family following a courageous year-long battle with cancer.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life service will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Washington. Online condolences may be sent for Nathan’s family at www.jonesfh.com.

Nathan was born on December 24, 1984, in Washington, Iowa, the son of Brian L. and Robin K. (Gesling) Arnold. A lifelong resident of the area, he graduated from Washington High School in 2003, where he excelled in football and spent countless hours in the weight room. He later attended Southeastern Community College to study Auto Body.

Nathan was the definition of a hard worker. He was a dedicated employee at the Walmart Distribution Center in Mt. Pleasant for 13 years and later worked for Arnold Motor Supply in Washington for seven years until his health forced an early retirement. A lifelong “Chevy Man,” Nathan’s knowledge of vehicles and classic cars was unmatched; he could identify the year, make, and model from just a single picture. For over twenty years, Nathan was a fixture in the demolition derby world. He found his greatest joy in the roar of a small-block Chevy engine and the grit of the arena. Whether he was under the hood or behind the wheel of a derby car, Nathan was in his element.

When he wasn’t in the driver's seat, Nathan enjoyed life’s simpler pleasures. He loved 90s country music and enjoying a nice cold Miller Lite in the shop. He and Jenahlee spent many Friday nights visiting different dirt tracks around Iowa to watch the stock car races and he was a huge Denver Broncos fan. Growing up, he was active in the Horse and Pony 4-H Club and enjoyed horseback riding. He also loved spending nights in the timber hunting and trapping raccoons. Nathan possessed a heart of gold. He had a deep love for animals of all shapes and sizes, especially his English Bulldog, Dozer.

To those lucky enough to be his friend, Nathan was fiercely loyal. He was known for a fun sense of humor and always enjoyed giving people a hard time or pulling off a good jump scare—though his family knew it was nearly impossible to ever actually scare him.

Nathan’s greatest legacy, however, was the home and life he built with the love of his life, Jenahlee. He stepped into the lives of Lincoln, Sloan, and Sawyer with a rare kind of devotion, choosing to love them unconditionally as his own. His commitment to his family was the engine that drove him, and his role as a father was his most meaningful victory.

He is survived by his partner, Jenahlee (Vittetoe) Chamberlain and children, Lincoln, Sloan and Sawyer of Washington, Iowa; parents, Brian and Robin Arnold of Brighton, Iowa; aunt, Connie (Brian) Blaess of De Graff, Ohio; uncle, Michael Arnold of East Pleasant Plains, Iowa; uncle, Jon Arnold of Salida, Colorado; aunt, Melissa Arnold of Salida, Colorado; aunt, Debbie (Chris) Unternahrer of Wayland, Iowa; aunt, Brenda (Keith) Lyon of Brighton, Iowa; and uncle, Jeff Gesling of Washington, Iowa.

Nathan was preceded in death by his grandmother, Barb Gesling; grandparents, Jerry and Ella Greiner; and grandfather, Don Droll.

Memorials have been established for the education funds of Lincoln, Sloan, and Sawyer.