Nicholas A. “Chloe,” “Nick” Grill, 25, Waterloo, formerly of Parkersburg

Nicholas Austin Grill, age 25, of Waterloo, Iowa, formerly of Parkersburg, was born May 30, 2001, at Kaweah Delta Hospital in Visalia, California, the beloved child of Amy Lorraine Shepard and Christopher Franklin Grill.

Nick was extraordinarily creative, intelligent, loving, and quick-witted. He had a way of seeing and experiencing the world that was uniquely his own, and he expressed so much of himself through music and art.

Nick attended Aplington-Parkersburg Schools and graduated with the Class of 2019. Although sports were not a big part of his life, he did enjoy playing high school tennis. Nick began playing the trombone in fifth grade and continued through his high school graduation, even picking it up from time to time after. Nick spent many years growing as a musician and sharing that love of music. In high school, he also took part in plays and musicals, where his musical and artistic sides could come together and became an important part of the person, he was.

Nick’s love of music was never limited to one instrument, one genre, or one setting. He was naturally curious and loved learning. He explored other instruments, including the ukulele, guitar and piano, and listened to an incredibly wide range of music. Hyperpop was among his favorites, but his appreciation for music reached across many genres. For Nick, music was more than entertainment, it was something he connected with and helped him express himself and experience the world.

Nick loved to draw and paint, that same creativity could be seen in his visual arts. He was artistic by nature, and creating things gave another outlet to the imagination and individuality that were such important parts of who he was. He loved gaming, every and all gaming systems. Minecraft and Mario being some of his favorites, giving his creativity yet another place to come alive.

Nick always seemed to choose food service for his profession of choice. He enjoyed eating well and loved cooking a meal. He often spoke of how he loved home-cooked meals. One of his last jobs was in the dining and food service at Hy-Vee.

Nick was very smart and had a wonderfully witty sense of humor. He could be clever, funny, and unpredictable, and those who knew him will remember the moments when his humor made them laugh. Beneath that wit was a deeply loving and kind person. Nick cared about others, and his warmth was reflected in his wonderful smile, genuine hugs and in the affection, he showed the people and animals in his life. He loved all animals, especially his adored dog, Hector, who held a very special place in his heart.

Nick will be remembered for so many things; his intelligence and wit, his artistic spirit, his kindness, his love for animals, and the unmistakable individuality he brought into the lives of those who knew him.

Nick passed away Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at MercyOne Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Richard Shepard; paternal grandparents, Russ and Helen Grill; his aunt and uncle, Rebecca and Bill Janzen; and cousins, Jaron and Justin Janzen.

Nick is survived by his mother, Amy Shepard (Brian Hartbarger) of Parkersburg; his father, Chris Grill of Waterloo; his sister, Alexandria Grill of Parkersburg; four brothers, Christopher (Taylor) Grill of Cedar Falls, James (Lauren) Grill of Cedar Rapids, Jason Grill of Aplington, and Cody (Ashley) Grill of Cascade; maternal grandmother, Linda (Greg) Uthe of Grundy Center; maternal step-grandfather, David Swanson of Moravia; uncles, Chad Shepard of Cedar Falls and Cory (Kamie) Shepard of Parkersburg; aunt, Jen (Chris) Aswegan of Tiffin; his nieces and nephews, Scarlett, James, Miles, Orion, Juniper, Flora, Birdie, Liam, and Parker; cousins, Victoria, Gretchen, Cadyen, Austin, Drake and John; friend Anya; and much-loved dog, Hector.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Greenhill Baptist Church, Cedar Falls, Iowa, with burial at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Waterloo, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at Redman Funeral and Cremation Services, Parkersburg.

Memorials may be directed to the family.