Dan “Snag” Arnold

Dan “Snag” Arnold, 63, died in his sleep at his home in Wasilla on Oct. 15, 2011.

Dan was born Feb. 18, 1948, to Monroe and Neoma Arnold in Leesville, La. He attended grade school and high school in Hicks, La., where he enjoyed playing baseball and often bragged about his .514 batting average.

At the age of 19, he began his career in the oil fields of Louisiana. His first job was driving a rig-up truck for B.F. Walker, and thus began his 4-plus-million-mile career in trucking. If it had an engine and tires, he could drive it. He and his devoted wife, Kathy, braved the Alaska Highway in March 1982, arriving in Alaska to pursue work in the Last Frontier, permanently imbedding the good ol’ Johnny Horton ballad into the memories of his three young children.

He worked on the North Slope for more than 27 years. He joined Local 302 Operating Engineers Union in 1998 and finished his career on the North Slope with Norcon retiring just this year. Throughout his construction career he made countless friends and friendships he maintained for many years. His friends will remember him for his Cajun humor and Elvis sideburns.

Dan was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was always happy to take his grandchildren for a truck ride. He took great pride in customizing his own truck. His philosophy was “the more chrome, the better.” He was a simple man of few words, but he enjoyed his morning coffee and joke sessions with his buddies at Denali Family Restaurant. He was very proud of his children and all of their accomplishments. He will be deeply missed not only by his family, but by his lifelong childhood friend, Jimmy Stevens of Alice, Texas, his coffee drinkin’ gang, truckin’ buddies and his four-legged furry companion, Wallie.

Dan is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kathy of Wasilla; children, Jill (William) Smith, Jessica (Steven) Gahan and Daniel (Shauna) Arnold; grandchildren, Shania Turnbull, Eli and McKinna Smith, and Westin and Titan Arnold, all of Wasilla; sister in-law, Carol Hoadley; nephews, Artis and Gervis Arnold that he had just recently reconnected with after 40 years; and numerous nieces and nephews in Caldwell, Idaho.

A casual celebration of Dan’s life is at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 21 at VFW Post 9365, 301 East Lakeview Ave., Wasilla. Everyone is welcome to bring a dish and a story.

Condolences may be mailed to the family, P.O. Box 873372, Wasilla, AK 99687.

Arrangements were cared for by the Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.