Passion to Educate Continues into Retirement for the Sievers
Karen and Jim Sievers both were honored with a retirement party in 2004, commemorating their combined 70 years of teaching health and science in the Des Moines public school system. But the couple wasn’t looking to put an end to their careers — they merely needed a change of scenery and pace.
It was on a 1997 trip to the family’s Lake Panorama cabin, an hour west of Des Moines, when Karen and Jim came across the home of their dreams. But it wasn’t until retirement in 2004 that they became official owners of a four-bedroom Victorian dream house just west of Panora. Then, in January 2005, they opened it as a bed and breakfast.
“We wanted to combine our love of the lake with our passion for the Iowa environment,” said Karen. “The results are Prairie View Bed & Breakfast. We were drawn to the country views and the retreat atmosphere which we hope to share with our guests.”
While Jim made the Des Moines commute everyday to finish out his tenure with the school system, Karen immersed herself in their new communities by joining the chamber of commerce in both Panora and Guthrie Center. The couple got involved with the planning committee for the Raccoon River Trail extension that will run close to their B&B. They joined the state organization for B&Bs and sought out involvement with the Western Iowa Tourism Office. They also launched their own Web site, www.prairieviewbb.com.
“You can’t expect a small community to support you if you don’t get involved. You must support them,” said Karen. Beginning an uncertain life as an entrepreneur has been cushioned by the support of neighboring residents and businesses, she said.
“There is an amazing enthusiasm and energy among the investors and business people in both Panora and Guthrie Center,” she said. Both Panora and Guthrie Center have community revitalization plans in the works, and Karen is doing what she can to support them. She’s committed to upholding the quality of life she and Jim have found in their “retirement” communities.
Its central location in the state makes the Prairie View Bed & Breakfast convenient for travelers, and with amenities ranging from golf at Lake Panorama National, biking the Raccoon River Trail, lounging on the sun deck, curling up by the fireplace or cross-country skiing, Prairie View provides a memorable stay. And with former science teachers as innkeepers, guided hikes around their 15 acres educate visitors about ecotourism and its importance to the region.
“The strength of these small towns is in the people,” Karen said. “Just as the residents and businesses in Panora and Guthrie Center have welcomed and taught us about the region, we hope to educate our guests on travel and life in Western Iowa.”
