- Date Of Birth: October 6, 1929
- Date Of Death: August 5, 2016
- State: Indiana
Charlotte Klootwyk was born on October 6, 1929 to Elizabeth and Walter Thomas in Pershing, Iowa.
After losing her father at the tender age of 6, Charlotte and her younger brother, Leonard, spent their early years as children of a single mom in the midst of the Great Depression. They learned to work hard at an early age, to make a lot out of a little, and to persevere through very difficult times.
Charlotte’s values shine through in each of her strong, hardworking and resilient children.
Charlotte Irene Thomas married M. Edward Klootwyk on January 13, 1952. She left her studies in nursing at the University of Iowa to move with her new husband to Colorado Springs in order for him to complete his service in the U.S. Army. After moving back to Iowa City for Ed to complete his degree, they moved briefly to Pittsburgh before relocating to Bloomington, Indiana where they fell in love with the town, raised their family, and lived for nearly 60 years.
Charlotte developed quite a wardrobe of red and white from decades of loyally cheering on the Hoosiers football and basketball teams. She was the consummate Avon Lady, Bridge Club member, and active in Monroe County Home Economics, having been named Monroe County Homemaker of the Year in 1981. True to her upbringing’s frugal and resourceful ways, she managed to plan adventurous cross- country trips to expose her children to the National Parks and other wonders of the United States. Some of their most memorable and special trips were taken with her brother and his family, which enabled them to share a closeness made difficult from living thousands of miles apart. Their trips fostered her love of traveling the world with her husband. Before they ended their traveling days, Charlotte and Ed had visited every state in the US, and numerous countries abroad with The Monroe County Bank Primetime Group.
Charlotte was immensely proud and took great joy in her family. She loved her children and celebrated in their special talents, and her heart swelled with love when one of her beloved grandchildren or great-grandchildren called her “Nana”. It was very important to her to give to them sentimental and meaningful gifts from her past so they would forever feel a connection to her and those that came before her.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, M. Edward Klootwyk. Surviving to cherish and honor her memory are her daughters, Mary Beth Curry of Ashland, MA., Ann Winters of Columbus, IN., son Dr. Thomas Klootwyk (Merilee) of Carmel, IN., grandchildren Matthew Curry (Meghan) of Cohasset, MA., Melissa Steinkamp (Kurt) of Mooresville, IN., Eric Curry (Stephanie) of Carmel, IN., Michael Winters (Julie) of Columbus, IN., Lauren Tobin (Greg) of Carmel, IN., Katie Klootwyk of New York, NY., and Lily Klootwyk of Carmel, IN. Her great-grandchildren Sophia and Ava Steinkamp, Elle Winters, and Benjamin Curry will miss spending time with their Nana as well as Griffin, Olivia and Landin Weert. Her brother, Leonard Thomas (Dollie) and nieces Kathy Sue Krause (Steve) and Sharon Sharp (Jeff) also survive.
