Ruth Ann Kooima

Rock Valley, IA: Ruth Ann Kooima, 75, of Rock Valley, Iowa, passed away Thursday, February 26, 2026, at Crown Pointe Estates in Sioux Center, Iowa. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, March 4, at 11:00 AM at Trinity Christian Reformed Church with Pastor Luke Johnston officiating. The service will be livestreamed at https://vimeo.com/event/4077519. Private family burial will be held prior to the service at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present will be held Tuesday, March 3, from 5:30-7:30 PM at Trinity CRC.

   Memorial donations may be directed to Rock Valley Christian School, Western Christian High School, or Orange City Christian School.

   Ruth Ann Kooima, daughter of John D. and Dorothy (Vander Sanden) Driesen, was born July 5, 1950, at Le Mars, Iowa. She grew up on a farm west of Rock Valley, Iowa. Ruth attended Rock Valley Christian School through the 8th grade and then attended and graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa. Following high school, Ruth enrolled at Sioux Valley Nursing School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

   While in high school, Ruth began dating Ken D. Kooima and on August 8, 1969, the couple was united in marriage at the First Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley. In 1971, the couple moved to a farm south of Rock Valley where they raised their three children, Kimberly, Kandace, and Kurt. Together Ruth and Ken built a life rooted in faith, family, and love. Ruth kept busy on the farm, from tending to her beautiful flower beds and endless hours of mowing, to traveling with Ken to area sale barns, she was the consummate farm wife.

   Ruth was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She dedicated her life to caring for her family and serving others. This included many years of service as a licensed practical nurse in the Hegg Health System. She was also a talented quilter and seamstress, making both of her daughters’ wedding dresses and altering wedding and prom dresses in her “retirement career.” She blessed the lives of countless children who received one of her handmade quilts while attending Royal Family Kids Camp. Ruth also enjoyed traveling with her family and especially loved the mountains and the cruises she and Ken took in their retirement years. She was always planning and looking forward to the next trip! Ruth prioritized time with her grandchildren with regular grandma days and went out of her way to make each of them feel special. Her faith was central to her life, and she was an active member of Trinity Christian Reformed Church.

   Ruth is survived by her husband of 56 years, Ken D. Kooima; daughter, Kim Nibbelink and her husband, Jamie of Orange City, Iowa, and their children, Paige (Zach) De Jong, Jayci (Nathan) Bolkema, and Jonah Nibbelink; daughter, Kandi Van Oort and her husband, Brent of Rock Valley, and their children, Brayden Van Oort (Amanda Schwartz), Brooklyn (Justin) Weber, and Drew Van Oort; son, Kurt Kooima and his wife, Megan of Rock Valley, and their children, Sophia, Kensley, and Isabella Kooima; 4 great-grandchildren, Tate, Quinn, and Emmett De Jong, and Rowan Bolkema; 2 brothers, Jay and Merlyn Driesen; and 5 siblings-in-law, Sebert Kooima, Trudy Huisken, Marlene (Ron) Kuyper, Don (Sherry) Kooima, and Ellen Kooima.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, John D. and Dorothy Driesen; parents-in-law, Peter and Ann Kooima; granddaughter, Lexi Nibbelink; an infant brother; 2 sisters-in-law, Marlys Driesen and Ann Kooima; and 2 brothers-in-law, Ben Huisken and Harlan Kooima.