Bringing Ethan Home: Honoring the Life of Ethan Walker

On January 4, 2026, our world was shattered when Ethan Walker, just 20 years old, passed away unexpectedly from a sudden medical event while on vacation in Orlando, Florida.

Ethan was a giant in every sense—a 6’5”, 310-lb offensive lineman for the Iowa Central Tritons, working toward a goal of playing major college football. But as much as he was known for his strength on the field, he was defined by his giant heart for his family, his friends, his faith, and his community. While his mother Sara, stepfather Jeff, and older brother Jordan remain in Florida to navigate the agonizing process of bringing him home, his father John, his younger brother Luke, and his grandparents Jack and Jackie Morrison wait in Iowa with heavy hearts to say their final goodbyes.

Ethan was in Florida with his longtime girlfriend and high school sweetheart, Kenzie, and her parents, whom Ethan had become very close with over the years, having been such a loving and devoted partner who honored their daughter with every action.

To honor Ethan, Sara’s wish is to remain by his side so they can make that final flight home to Grinnell together.

The financial burden of this tragedy is immense. We are raising funds to cover the transportation and specialized care required to bring Ethan home from Florida, emergency travel and lodging for the family, and the funeral services in Iowa. Beyond these immediate needs, any additional funds will be used to honor Ethan’s memory and preserve his legacy through memorial projects and tributes as determined by his mother, Sara. Ethan was a teammate to so many in so many ways, and we want to ensure he receives the farewell he deserves and a lasting legacy that reflects the impact he had on us all.

Transparency & Fund Management: All donations from this fundraiser are being directed to the Ethan Walker Memorial Fund at GreenState Credit Union. His mother, Sara Nielsen, is the designated beneficiary of this GoFundMe and has sole control over the funds. These contributions will be used for Ethan’s transport, funeral services, and memorial projects as determined by Sara. Information regarding offline donations will be updated here as soon as those details are finalized.

Thank you for your prayers, your kindness, and for helping us bring Ethan home.

To read more about Ethan's life and what he meant to us, you can see his full obituary here.