08/02/2026
Ronia Maxine Beaver Klootwyk was born December 14, 1957, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Gareth James and Janice Margaret Beaver. She spent her first five years in Pershing, Iowa, before her family moved to Knoxville shortly before she began school.
As the oldest of four children, Ronia developed the independence, determination, and natural leadership that would remain defining qualities throughout her entire life. She went on to graduate from Knoxville High School in 1976.
Ronia later welcomed two children, Daniel Scott and Nicole Diane. In 1984, she married Kent William Klootwyk, and they lived in rural Knoxville before relocating to Sheldon in 1986 due to Kent’s employment. Together they welcomed their daughter, Megan Mackenzie in 1992.
The family later moved to Emmetsburg, Iowa, in 1997, where Ronia’s agricultural roots and creativity truly flourished.
Upon retirement, Kent and Ronia moved closer to family in the Carlisle/Des Moines area. They cherished their retirement years journeying the U.S. in their camper—traveling to Corpus Christi, Texas; Sparta, Kentucky to a Nascar race; Custer State Park to experience the buffalo roundup, and countless Iowa state parks.
Ronia spent many nights camping with their grandchildren under open skies.
To say Ronia had a green thumb is an understatement. In Emmetsburg, she launched the Klootwyk Homestead, cultivating acres of land with everything from acorn squash to zucchini.
Through her Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, she fed hundreds of people with overflowing baskets of fresh produce and lined countless pantries with home-canned tomatoes, green beans, and pickled beets.
Ronia also raised cattle, pigs, and chickens—her beloved “girls” provided her family and community with the best breakfast eggs. Deeply rooted in her community, Ronia became an honorary 4-H member and spent 15 years as a leader with the Palo Alto County Cantering 4-H Club, generously sharing her knowledge, enthusiasm, and love of animals with local youth.
Even when she wasn’t tending or directing Kent’s work in the garden, Ronia’s hands were never idle. Long before Pinterest and Instagram, she was an exceptionally creative soul who sewed quilts and clothing and created all manner of arts and crafts.
She brought that passion to the public by launching and running Accents Studio, a store in Emmetsburg dedicated to arts, crafts, and antiques.
Food was another main channel for Ronia’s love. She drew on the large-scale cooking skills she honed as a dietary cook at Palo Alto County Area Hospital to feed the crowds she loved to gather.
She made sure no one ever went hungry, often topping off family meals with fresh pies and her mother’s beloved homemade ice cream.
Ronia devoted herself to a lively menagerie of animals. Every spring brought litters of kittens to the delight of her granddaughters and nieces, and her homestead was rarely without a loyal dog (or even Penelope, her pot-bellied pig).
Her greatest pride and joy, however, were her horses. Starting with her first horse, Penny, who became a steady source of peace, Ronia went on to care for Peaches, Walter, Cinnamon, Squirt, Pete, and Charlie. Trail riding brought her immense freedom, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when she spent countless hours on the trails with her daughter, her sister-in-law Sue, and close friends.
Among her favorite riding spots were Pilot Knob, Brushy Creek, Fort Defiance, and Bryce Canyon National Park.
Whether she was tending a garden, feeding a crowd, guiding a horse along a trail, or creating something beautiful, Ronia gave herself fully to life. She was independent, industrious, creative, and nurturing—a woman most at home with her hands in the soil, an ongoing project in the works, food in the oven, family gathered nearby, and an animal by her side.
She is welcomed home by her parents, Jim & Janice Beaver; her parent-in-laws, Ralph & Pauline Klootwyk; and brother in law, Randy Klootwyk.
She will be deeply missed by her husband Kent Klootwyk; her children: Scott Massick of Lovila, Nicole (Darin) Fliear of Murrieta, CA, Megan (Ben) Sigmund of Des Moines, IA; and her grandchildren: Kyli, Zachary, and Derrick Fliear, Kaleigh & Kristen Massick, Evelyn, Wyatt, and Miles Sigmund.
She is also survived by her siblings: James (Diana) Beaver, Robert (Jackie) Beaver, Candace (Jeff) Brewster, Steve (Carla) Klootwyk, Joe Klootwyk, Sue Klootwyk, Brian (Kelly) Klootwyk, and many treasured nieces and nephews, extended family, and friends.
In honor of Ronia’s many years of service and the lasting influence of 4-H in her life, memorial contributions may be made to Warren County 4-H or Marion County 4-H programs.
A celebration of life service for Ronia Klootwyk, 68, will be held Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the Carlisle United Methodist Church located at 405 School St. Carlisle. Family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. A luncheon will be held at the church following the service for a time of continued visiting and fellowship.