Kimberly “Kim” Williams passed away after a three-year battle with stage four ovarian cancer on September 17th, 2021, at the age of 55, peacefully at home surrounded by her husband, daughter, and best friend.
Kim was born on August 1, 1966, in Atlantic, Iowa to Richard and Sandy Kloppenburg. She attended Wartburg College where she studied biology, before attending the University of Iowa for PT school. Kim completed her final clinical in Salt Lake City, where she fell in love with the mountains, hiking, biking, and camping. Kim met her husband Chip during her time in Salt Lake. The pair had a shared love for the outdoors, beer, and chocolate chip cookies, and in June 1993 they eloped in the snowy mountains of Salt Lake. They moved back to Iowa to raise their family and in October 1999 their daughter Colby was born. Kim loved being a mother and raised Colby to be a strong and independent woman. Kim’s other passion was being a pediatric physical therapist for over 30 years. She had the ability to do the impossible like teaching kids how to walk who were told never would. When Kim was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer 3 years ago, her world was altered, but she had a magical way of finding positivity in the darkest of times.
Kim is survived by her husband of 28 years, Chip; her daughter, Colby; her father, Rich; two sisters, Kristi and Jodi; and 7 nieces and nephews.
A candle-lit vigil to honor Kim’s life will be held at the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park, 2251 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50321, on October 23rd from 4:30-7pm. We hope for this event to be a space to gather and share memories, all you need to bring is yourself.
Follow the link to her Caring Bridge site where information about her celebration of life will be posted at a later date.
