Cyle Joseph Claflin

Cyle Joseph Claflin, 55, of Urbandale, IA passed away suddenly and unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm on Tuesday, February 20th in Des Moines, Iowa, surrounded by those who knew and loved him the most, his family.

Cyle was born on November 26th, 1968, in Jamestown, North Dakota, to Evelyn Maurine and Warren Joseph Claflin, and was the youngest of five siblings. The family moved to Sioux City when he was in high school. He played hockey and football throughout school. He spent summers in the Black Hills with his parents working at their seasonal burger/ice cream shop and exploring the area. Cyle graduated from East Sioux City High School and attended Morningside University. He studied biology alongside his father who was the biology professor there. Cyle was a lifelong Morningside Mustangs fan and enjoyed following their sports teams through the years.

Cyle met Heather Swanson while in college and they were married in Akron, Iowa. They had a daughter, Amanda, and lived in Sioux City where he worked at MCI. Cyle and Amanda enjoyed spending time with Cyle’s parents in South Dakota and created many happy memories together there. It was important to Cyle to teach Amanda about biology and science and how to throw a football and baseball. There were hours of games of catch played. Amanda shares Cyle’s love of rocks and animals, the Black Hills, and his stubborn personality.

Cyle moved to the Des Moines area and began working at Wells Fargo where his career in corporate training launched. He had a passion for teaching and educating others, just like his dad. He positively impacted the training and education of thousands of people throughout his career in his roles at Wells Fargo, iWireless, and, most recently, EquiTrust Life Insurance where he was a Senior Manager of Customer Experience. He took pride in developing his teams as well as being a dynamic leader.

Cyle and Kate met in Urbandale, Iowa. He married Kate in 2006 in Greenfield, Iowa. Cyle joined Kate in supporting Nate at cross country, track, and Boy Scout events. Cyle and Nate share a love of football statistics, Dad jokes, and methodical methods of tackling a challenge.

Cyle was always up for an adventure and he and Kate spent the past several years traveling the U.S. visiting national and state parks, the mountains, and the beach. He was most happy in the captain's seat of his RV, exploring a backroad Jeep trail, or having a margarita on the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.

Cyle was passionate about tending to his lawn and landscaping and beamed with pride when a neighbor complimented his work. On summer weekends he enjoyed detailing and tinkering with their Jeep, RV and SUV. He was excited each July to help prep his father-in-law’s antique tractors to drive in the Fourth of July parade.

Cyle loved those around him deeply and in his own way. When Cyle put his mind to it, he would tackle a challenge with an unwavering will to succeed. He faced and conquered the biggest challenge set before him in his 55 years, spending the last three days of his life fighting in the intensive care unit at Mercy Hospital so that he could continue impacting lives with the selfless act of organ and tissue donation. His adventures will live on in spirit with those of us who loved him most, and with those who never met him but will continue to live because of him.

Cyle was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Maurine Claflin.

He is survived by his loving wife, Kate Claflin; his daughter, Amanda (Tyler) Zander; his son, Nate (Taylor) Kreis; his brothers, Craig (Beverly) Claflin and Courtney Claflin; his sisters, Caryn Claflin and Colleen (Kevin) Fettig; his brothers in law, Kevin (Ronda) Kreis and Eric (Melissa) Woosley; his four grandchildren, Carson, Mikayla, Gage and Everett; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins.

A celebration of life for Cyle will be held at 1:00 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory in Urbandale, with the family receiving friends until 3:00 pm following the service. The family encourages those attending to wear tropical or Jimmy Buffet themed attire, as it was Cyle's favorite. Online condolences can be made to the family at caldwellparrish.com.