Aaron Koskamp

Rev. Aaron John Koskamp, 94, of Pella died Sunday, July 24, 2022, at The Cottages in Pella. His life will be
celebrated at a service Monday, August 1 at 1:30 p.m. at Second Reformed Church, 612 Broadway, Pella
with visitation beginning at noon. A live-stream link will also be available at the church’s website.
Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
Aaron was born September 19, 1927, in Sheboygan County, WI to Arthur and Martha Swart Koskamp.
He graduated from Oostburg High School in 1945 and was stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA for the end of
World War II. Afterwards, he enrolled at Central College in Pella where he met his wife, Barbara
Rathmell Koskamp while roller skating in the old college gym. They were married on August 12, 1953, in
Winfield, IA and moved to Holland, MI where Aaron followed in the footsteps of his grandfather by
studying at Western Theological Seminary.
Rev. Koskamp spent thirty-eight years as a minister, first in the Reformed Church in America, then in the
Presbyterian Church (USA). Aaron especially enjoyed pastoral care and youth work while serving
congregations in Courtenay and Wimbledon, ND; Valley Springs, SD; Coggon and Mediapolis, IA;
Stapleton, NE; and Rushmore, MN. Retiring to Pella in 1992, he took part-time positions in Brooklyn and
Ewart, IA while also working at the Christian Opportunity Center in Pella. He led his life with a kind and
gentle spirit toward all.
Back in Pella after forty years, Aaron enjoyed singing with the College Community Chorus and retired
from the choir at Second Church at age 89. He made frequent visits to both the college and city libraries
for reading and study time. Being a child of the depression, he was a natural at reducing, reusing, and
recycling. Being Dutch, he never passed up a bargain at an auction or yard sale. Aaron enjoyed tent
camping, loved ketchup with most everything, and maintained his adventurous spirit and playful sense
of humor to the end.
Aaron and Barbara were married more than sixty-eight years prior to Barbara’s recent death on June 15,
2022. They are survived by four children: Janna and Rev. Jeff Kisner, Roxboro, NC; Mark Koskamp and
David Teachout, Des Moines; Dan and Robin Koskamp, the Twin Cities; Melanie Koskamp and Mia Zierk,
Chicago; grandchildren Julia and Mankit Law, Cary, NC; Jesse and Justin Armstrong, Charlotte, NC;
Jordan Koskamp, The Woodlands, TX; Bethany Koskamp, Cedar Rapids; Hannah Koskamp, the Twin
Cities; and great-grandchildren Isaac and Dylan Law.
Also surviving are his sisters, Mary Thiel of Sheboygan Falls, WI and Jane Ratmeyer of Atlanta; sister-in-
law Edna Koskamp of Port Washington, WI; and Barbara’s siblings, Louella and Ed Scholtens of Green
Lake, WI and Ed and Julie Rathmell of Cedar Falls.
Aaron was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Martha Koskamp, and Barbara’s parents, Ray
and Eva Rathmell; three brothers, Peter, Paul, and James Koskamp; sister-in-law Anna Koskamp; and
brothers-in-law Clarence Thiel and Rev. Luther Ratmeyer.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Christian Opportunity Center in Pella, supporting people
with disabilities, or to Central College for the Douwstra Auditorium pipe organ.

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