Ronia Maxine Beaver Klootwyk

Ronia Maxine Beaver Klootwyk December 14, 1957 – August 2, 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.