WEST UNION, Iowa (KCRG) – William Montoya grew up in an orphanage in Colombia, was raised with support from Swedish sponsors, graduated high school in Norway and earned a college degree in Iowa. Now he calls West Union home — and has built a leather goods brand to reflect the journey.
Montoya named his brand Krona, a nod to the Swedish word for “crown” and a tribute to the sponsors who supported him from childhood.
“Krona stands for a Swedish word and it means ‘crown,’” Montoya said. “I grew up in an orphanage in Colombia so I was given the opportunity to meet my sponsors who are from Sweden.”
From Ecuador to eastern Iowa
His sponsors were present when he finished high school in Norway and again when he graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. It was during college that Montoya met his wife — and when she joined the Peace Corps in Ecuador in 2011, he followed.
“Back in 2011 my wife went to the Peace Corps in Ecuador and I was not going to let her go. So I chased her down there,” Montoya said.
In Ecuador, Montoya connected with a couple who could transform designs and beef hide into leather goods, including a crossbody bag his wife designed. Those connections created economic opportunity for the craftspeople involved.
“Angel and Jenni were a couple and had younger girls at the time. And because of these products they have been able to put their daughters through college,” Montoya said.
Settling in West Union
Montoya and his wife chose West Union for its proximity to her parents and for the character of its residents.
“The people here are quite special and that’s coming from someone who’s been to over 15, 20 different countries — I think it might mean something,” Montoya said.
In addition to selling Krona products online, Montoya works at a nearby dairy and a recruiting firm, and coaches his sons’ soccer teams.
“I feel like I’m on a vacation forever. I love being in West Union. It is such a small place with a big big impact on every single person who lives here,” Montoya said.
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