Troy Middleton

Troy James Middleton passed away peacefully at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA, surrounded by love, after complications from pneumonia, combined with underlying illness, proved more aggressive than his body could handle. He was 48 years old.

Troy was born on Oct. 5th, 1974, and was the only, and deeply cherished, child of Jim and Diane Middleton of Eagle Grove, Iowa. He loved two things from the very beginning to the very end: music, and experiencing, preferably fast and with some amount of danger involved, the great outdoors.

He often said, “I can break that,” when it came to anything from lawnmowers to snowblowers to trucks to off-road vehicles to his own extremities. He loved adventure and exploration starting from a young age (from three-wheeling on the ice at Lake Cornelia to his trip to Space Camp). He loved to be outside. His future plans, which he was actively putting into place in the months before his death, included a public campground and trails at the family timber outside of Eagle Grove, Iowa.

A favorite photo shows him as a baby, sitting on the kitchen floor, banging on pots and pans in a drumlike fashion. Music was in his heart, and he could be found playing, listening, and recording through all phases in his life. He was heavily involved in band and choir in high school, absolutely loved being an Iowa Ambassador of Music and Iowa State Fair Singer and attended MusicTech in Minneapolis after brief and fun-filled years at Luther College in Decorah (during which he was in the prestigious Nordic Choir) and Iowa State University in Ames. College didn’t particularly interest him beyond the social aspects. Music lit him up and comforted him in ways nothing else could.

After graduating MusicTech, Troy moved to the Los Angeles, CA area to pursue a career in music production and live sound, but, through Eagle Grove connections for which he was so grateful, fell into positions that made him an entertainment jack of all trades—holding jobs and gigs in visual effects, television, and music. He was a sponge for knowledge about these things, and even though his youth was spent being on “the talent” side of things, most of his adult life he worked trying to help others look and (more importantly to him) sound good.

After 18 years in California, Troy moved back to Eagle Grove in 2015 to be closer to family, and shortly thereafter started working for Scott Thompson at Arden Scott Collectibles. He loved being around classic vinyl records and music equipment each day and loved being part of the downtown business community. This job ultimately lead him to his most successful role, and the one he was most proud of—that of a husband.

The whole story is too long for this obituary, but Troy Middleton and Sara Sheller had their first date in February 2018, realized they were ridiculously in love in April 2018, got engaged in July 2018, and were united in marriage in a legendarily “Troy and Sara” way—outside at “The Farm,” without pretense or much regard for tradition, in the presence of their beloved dog, Doozer, and so many of their most cherished family and friends—on Oct. 6th, 2018. Troy and Sara loved each other truly and deeply and it sustained and comforted them through tough and trying times and amplified the joy and peace they found together in the good times (most of the times were so very good). He wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life making sure he and Sara were safe, stable, fulfilled, and together, and while none of us is perfect, he loved his wife completely. She is comforted by that now.

Troy was sensitive, caring, and extremely loyal to those he loved. If you were one of his people, he would go to the ends of the earth for you. He loved his hometown of Eagle Grove, and loved working on its behalf, whether behind the scenes or in partnership with Sara.

Because he was so young, he is survived by many. His physical presence is missed and mourned deeply by his wife Sara Middleton and their dog, Doozer; parents, Jim and Diane Middleton; many close friends—particularly his chosen brother, Lance (Heather Hanna & Sariah) Helmke; dear family on all sides, and the many lives he touched with kindness and laughter—too many to count. He is preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents, and his cousin Joy.

A Visitation took place at Foust Funeral Home on Friday, June 2, 2023, from 5 to 7 p.m. Memorial services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Foust Funeral Home.