Nyle Beryl Cottington

Nyle Beryl Cottington, Age 78, passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2025, surrounded by family at Heartwood House in Ames, Iowa.
Nyle was born on December 15, 1946, to parents Beryl and Arlene (Carlson) Cottington in Des Moines, Iowa. Shortly after his birth he moved to a farm near Stanhope where he lived nearly all of is life. After an active childhood engaged in 4H and FFA, Nyle graduated from South Hamilton Community School in 1965, and took classes at Iowa State University in their farm operations curriculum. He served in the Iowa National Guard.
He married the love of his life Jan Tempel from Jewell, Iowa in 1968 and together they grew a family and nurtured their farm until moving to Ames, Iowa in 2022. Nyle enjoyed fellowship with the local farming community with a focus on adopting conservation practices in his fields. Nyle balanced his love for the farm with a 47-year career in the tax business operating H&R Block offices in Ames and Nevada working closely with employees that he treated as his family. Nyle and Jan worked side by side in both their farming and tax businesses celebrating 57 years of marriage in November.
Through his life we were shown patience and humility through a kind heart, contagious smile and willingness to help anyone in need. We were reminded that God's gift of life is too precious not to laugh, make a joke or be silly. He had a steady faith which led to the kind of everyday character that quietly taught us how to live. His constant calm steadied many storms. In facing his final challenge of lewy body dementia, Nyle pushed back in the way he lived and loved right up to the end in ways that will keep shaping us for the rest of our lives.
Nyle was a member of the Stanhope Parish, supported the Stanhope Lions Club, and served on the Hamilton County Conservation Board. His favorite past times were following his Iowa State Cyclones, golfing, hunting and fishing, enjoying ice cream, and spending time with his family.
Nyle is survived by his wife Jan of Ames, Iowa; children: Brent (Laura) Cottington of Saint Michael, Minnesota, Stacy (Jeff) Osborn of Eagle Grove, Iowa, and Kelly Nelson of Waterloo, Iowa; grandchildren Zachary (Calista), Samuel, Brandi (Ben), Brittney (Keegan), Brooklyn, Alexis and Talan; great grandson Sterling; brother Gary Cottington of Pella, Iowa; brother-in-law Charles Wilcox of Stratford, Iowa, sister-in-law Kathy (Marvin) Chaney of Raytown, Missouri, and brother-in-law George Sorenson of Eldora, Iowa; many other extended family members and friends.
Nyle was preceded in death by his parents, Beryl and Arlene Cottington, brother Merril Cottington, sister Darla Wilcox, Jan's parents Virgil and Mary Tempel, sister-in-law Carolyn Cottington, sister-in-law Phylis Cottington and sister-in-law Theresa Sorenson.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Heartwood House and Suncrest Hospice for their care and support.
Visitation will be held at the Grandon Funeral and Cremation Center in Ames, Iowa on Friday, December 12, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Stanhope Parish in Stanhope, Iowa with a fellowship lunch to follow. A private burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Jewell, Iowa following the luncheon.