Richarla Alida Van Ee was born October 15, 1927, to  Richard L. and Gertrude Mae (Walraven) Lautenbach, near Pella, Iowa.  Sadly, Richarla's  father died when she was just two months old. She and her mom moved to the Walraven home to live with her grandparents and uncles and aunts. She was baptized and made profession of faith in the First Reformed Church in Pella.

Due to childhood illnesses, Richarla couldn't walk well. As a result, she would sit with her grandma who taught her embroidery, knitting, crocheting and quilting. She often sat on her grandfather's lap reading the Bible as they warmed their feet by the stove.  When she was eight years old, she began attending town school. During the week she lived with Uncle Elias and Aunt Rosetta Kolenbrander. She graduated from Pella High School in 1945 and then worked on the home farm with Uncle John Walraven.

One Saturday night in 1943, Richarla met Bernie Van Ee on the square in Pella.  They were married on July 23, 1947, in the Walraven home, continuing the tradition of her parents and aunts and uncles. To this union ten children were born. Richarla and Bernie began their married life about 10 miles northwest of Pella, near  the Skunk River bottom, where they lived for 40 years. Family and friends fondly referred to their home as "The Skunk River Motel". Richarla and Bernie spent many hours in prayer and she continued this practice to the end of her life. Richarla had many happy memories of cooking, canning, and caring for the family home.  Her greatest joy (beside her family) was spending time in her garden and growing flowers.  Bernie passed away in 1986 after a struggle with ALS and cancer.  In 1988, Richarla moved to the house she and Bernie had previously purchased in Pella. She kept busy making trips to the farm, taking food to the guys in the field, and diligently visiting her mother, Gertrude and her Uncle John. She spent many hours crocheting and knitting.  She shared her creations with family and friends.  She also spent countless hours working on family history and photo books.

The two most important things in Richarla's life were her relationship with her Lord and her family. She enjoyed many years of travel to visit those who lived further away. Her suitcase always transported frozen meat and bakery goods. Richarla valued gathering her family together.  The last large gathering was for her 90th birthday in the summer of 2017 with 117 family members present.

In the fall of 2018 Richarla moved to The Cottages.  She loved the view from her window and the wildlife that gathered at her birdfeeder. She passed away at the age of 94.

Richarla and Bernie were members of Otley Christian Reformed Church until it closed in 1958. They joined Calvary Christian Reformed Church and then became charter members of Faith Christian Reformed Church in Pella where she was a member of the Lydia Society and helped with the Friendship Bible Hour.

Richarla was preceded in death by her husband Bernie, parents Richard and Gertrude Lautenbach, an infant son James Dean, son-in-law, John Van Haaften, Uncle John Walraven, and great-grandchildren:  Jude Treur and Jude Van Ee.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren:

Gary and Marcia (Scholten) Van Ee, Pella, Iowa

Philip and Erin Van Ee

Aidan, Iain, Colin, Rowen

Mark Van Ee

Michael and Kimberly Van Ee

Arianna, Sarah

Richarla and George Den Oudsten

Hannah, Alida, Emma, Caleb

Ruth and Will Verhoef, Pella, Iowa

Lynn and Kevin Roberts

Natalie, Finn

Paul and Monique Verhoef

Noah, Aaliyah, Zoë

Rachel and Greg Treur

Tessa, Genevieve, Jack, Hazel

Joel and Katie Verhoef

Eden, Joel, Elaina

Bernard and Jaci (Van Wyngarden) Van Ee, Anchorage, Alaska

Heidi and Joel Verbrugge

Josiah, Hannah, Isaac

Joshua and Heidi Van Ee

Eliyana, Caleb, Gideon

Rebecca and Matt Hoksbergen

Eli, Rachel, Emily, Jacob

Sheryl and Larry Hanthorn, Pella, Iowa

Tricia and Lance Van Zee

Avery, Carver, Davis

Jana and Paul Boonstra

Annika, Sophia, Isaiah

Benjamin and Jeana Van Haaften

Payten, John, Brexley

Fred and Deb (Rozenboom) Van Ee, Pella, Iowa

Jessica and George Economos

Vernon, Gabriella, Titus

Stephanie and Joshua Van Drunen

Cole, Evan, Hadley, Tate

Jennifer Van Ee

Verlan and Rebecca (Smit) Van Ee, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Noelle and Rajan Purcell

Rebekah, Stephen

Nathan and Alison Van Ee

Kana, Kai, Kody

Nicholas and Tessa Van Ee

Jaak, Rowan, Keziah

Noah Van Ee

Justin and Rachel Van Ee

Marvin and Dawnetta (Ried) Van Ee, Eldridge, Iowa

Donavin and Colleen Van Ee

Charney, Rosalee, Donavin

Marcie and Steven Bradley

Evelynn, Dawn

Valerie Van Ee

Eric and Donna (De Cook) Van Ee, Otley, Iowa

David Van Ee

Aaron and Kaitlyn Van Ee

Kasten, Kohen

Lydia and Nate Van Veldhuizen

Martin

Chris and Kelly (Van Zomeren) Van Ee, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Dawit, Kate, Eliza

She is also survived by her sister-in-law Cathryn Van Ee.

Pella Christian Schools
Pella IA 50219

Reliant Mission (working with the people of south Asia)