Daniel (Dan) Arnold was called to his promised eternal reward on Tuesday November 17, 2015. Although his life with us was all too short, he changed the lives of millions and will continue to impact the Kingdom for many years to come. A devout Christian, philanthropist, and businessman, Dan was the founder and CEO of Road Ranger LLC. He and his wife, Linda, started with a single store shortly after getting married and have grown it to the company it is today. He was awarded the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2009. Born into a proud military family, Dan was a lifelong student of military history. He carried on this tradition by joining the National Guard to both serve his country and pay for college. Dan was the first member of his family to attend college, graduating from Northern Illinois University in 1981 with a degree in Business/Marketing. He was a proven leader at both his company and in the world at large. At the time of his death, Dan was actively involved with many organizations serving as a Board Member of Christ for All Nations (CFaN), Chairman of the Board of The Transfer Foundation, Director with Ray Comfort’s Living Waters Publications, The Gideons International, and many others. His past service includes, founding member of Reformers Unanimous, five term Vice Chairman of The Illinois Historical Preservation Society, Director and Treasurer of The Rockford Boys & Girls Club, on the Board of Advisors to Northern Illinois University, various positions in Ministries of Campus Crusade for Christ, and others too numerous to list. Along with his wife Linda, Dan founded multiple charitable foundations. Among those are The Daniel and Linda Arnold Scholarship Fund at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and The Arnold Family Charitable Trust assisting Christian organizations worldwide.
Dan is survived by his wife Linda and twin daughters Cristina and Giselle, his greatest gifts from God. Sisters Debbie (Jay) Montange, Sandy (Kenneth) Simmons, brother Clayton (Debbie) Arnold, mother-in-law, Eloisa Eckmann (James Harders), brothers-in-law Adam (Angie) Leddy; John (Sue) Leddy, Capt. Lawrence F. Eckmann, sister-in-law, Gina Wells and husband, Scott, and countless nieces, nephews, cousins, an aunt and uncle.
Dan also leaves behind untold numbers of those that knew and loved him. We know that he was greeted by many Saints as he entered into the glorious presence of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and will be waiting with great expectations for all those who are yet to come.
“Well done, my good and faithful servant” Mathew 25:21.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that you support two organizations that were very dear to Dan. Reverend Reinhard Bonnke’s work at Christ for All Nations (CfaN) and Gideons International.
- A Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 21, 2015, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation one hour prior to the service.
- A Memorial service will be held Wednesday December 2nd beginning at 1:30 p.m., at Heartland Community Church, 1280 South Alpine Rockford, Illinois