Ruth E. Klotz was born on Aug. 13, 1932, to Albert and Ella (Stieneke) Hartwig in Cherokee.
She passed away at the Mill Pond Community Care Center in Ankeny on Nov. 25, 2025.
After graduation from Aurelia High School, she attended the American Institute of Business in Omaha, Neb. She had a long successful career working as an executive secretary for American Bakeries in Chicago.
Ruth was married to William (Bill) Klotz for 64 years, cherishing their life together until Bill’s passing in 2020. They spent 45 years in the Chicago suburbs before making Ankeny their home in 1998.
She is survived by her sister Joyce Stead of Issaquah, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her brothers: John Hartwig, Ralph Hartwig, Dean Hartwig and Robert Hartwig; sister-in-law Dorothy Hartwig ;and brother-in-law, Ivan Stead.
Ruth leaves behind a loving family, including nieces, Peggy (Loren) Kolpin of Grinnell; and Shirley (David) Pierce of Aurelia; nephews, Dr. Stanley (Judy) Stead of Encino, Calif.; and Randall (Valene) Stead of Issaquah, Wash. She is also survived by 11 great-nieces and nephews, 19 great-great-nieces and nephews, and three great-great-great-nieces and nephews.
