Obituary of William Jason Nutt

William “Jason” Nutt, 48, died on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, IA after a short illness.

A small, private service will take place in the future.

Jason was born September 27, 1975, in Iowa City to William “Bill” Nutt and Beverly (Ruzek) Nutt. He attended school in Iowa City and in 1994, he graduated from North Scott Senior High School in Eldridge, IA. He later attended Kirkwood Community College.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by two sons, Alexander Mullane of Hills and Camron Nutt of Cedar Rapids; sister Kate (Eric) Simonson of Belmond, IA; two nieces and a nephew, Emily, Claudia, and William Simonson of Belmond, IA; and his friend, Irving Howard of Coralville, IA.

Jason didn’t live a movie-esque life, at least not the happy ending part, but the world was a better place because he was in it.

From the very beginning he was the answer to his parents deepest wishes and most fervent prayers. They struggled to have the children they so desperately wanted and after adopting his sister, they were blessed with the news that they were expecting. It’s hard to imagine a child that was more wanted than Jason. And he wasn’t just a gift to his parents, he was also the best birthday present his older sister ever received: a baby of her very own, or so she thought.

Unfortunately, Jason’s life was full of heartache. He lost his dad when he was just a year old and his mom when he was 15. It was a terrible foundation on which to build his life and he never got over the loss.

Jason could be funny and kind, in turns vulnerable and closed off. He was a complicated person and never met a bridge that he wasn’t willing to burn, but he also had friendships that lasted years. Despite feeling like he was alone in life, his illness and death came as a terrible blow to those who knew him, even those he hadn’t been close to and, at the end, he was surrounded by a motley crew of people who loved him and made sure he didn’t die alone.

He didn’t get his happy ending, but the ripples of his life stretch out beyond him in love and light. Because of him, two sons walk this earth and bring joy to those who know them; a friend thinks of him as a brother. 

Jason lived often feeling broken and alone and wished that so much had been different. Hopefully he didn’t know what was happening at the end, but if he did, hopefully he felt love and comfort. And hopefully, he is finally at peace.