Kyler Rugg, 17, of Wayland, passed from this life on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. A visitation will be held Friday, February 20, 2026, from 3 – 8 PM at the WACO High School gymnasium. Following visitation, cremation will take place and a celebration of his life will be held Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 1- 4 PM at the Eichelberger Main Office at 408 N. Way Drive, Wayland. A general memorial fund has been established. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Kyler was born on July 9, 2008, in Washington, the son of Aaron and Dawn (Stauffer) Rugg. He was a senior at WACO High School, where he was very active in FFA (which he loved) and had played on the football team. Kyler owned and operated his own lawn care business, Rugg’s Lawn Care and Snow Removal, and worked for C & M Plumbing in Mt. Pleasant. He enjoyed fishing, tractors, singing 90’s country songs and giving hugs. He will be remembered for this quote: “Every day is a great day, but not everybody sees the great in that day.”
Survivors include his parents, Aaron and Dawn of Wayland; two brothers Karsen and Kolten; his girlfriend Sammy Helfrich of Brighton; their soon to be born son Benjamin Kyler James; his maternal grandparents: Jimmy and Gina Stauffer of Wayland, paternal grandparents Merle and Sherri Rugg of Wayland, maternal great-grandparents Curt and Janice Eddy of Wayland, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Preceding Kyler in death were his maternal great-grandparents Edwin and Louise Stauffer, and paternal great-grandparents Doc and Helen Rugg and Dick and Frances Morrow.
