Barbara Koskamp

Barbara Jean Rathmell Koskamp, 90, of Pella died Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital due to complications from a fall.

Barbara was born March 11, 1932, in Washington county, IA to Ray and Eva Foss Rathmell. She graduated from Crawfordsville High School in 1949 and earned a two-year teaching degree from Central College in Pella where she met her husband, Aaron Koskamp, while roller skating in the old college gym. Later, all her siblings and all her children attended Central eventually totaling twenty-three alums in the extended family. She taught elementary school in Washington, IA before she and Aaron were married on August 12, 1953, in First Presbyterian Church, Winfield, IA. While Aaron studied at Western Theological Seminary, Barbara taught elementary school in Holland, MI. A lifelong learner, she worked hard to finish a four-year degree from Upper Iowa University at age 40, balancing her studies, three kids in school, and a round trip commute of 110 miles before the age of remote learning. She then taught third grade in Coggon, IA and Worthington, MN and was an associate teacher and playground attendant in Pella until age 75.

She actively led and supported church groups wherever Aaron served as pastor: Courtenay, ND; Valley Springs, SD; Coggon, IA; Mediapolis, IA; Stapleton, NE; and Rushmore, MN. They retired to Pella in 1992 where she spent countless hours nurturing her perennial gardens. She also enjoyed tenting all over the country and added rocks to her collection from each campsite. She dabbled in family history decades before it was cool, extolled the virtues of healthy eating, and never had enough time to finish her to-do list.

At home, it was hard to separate the mothering role from the teaching role. She constantly encouraged excellence in every endeavor but was most proud of raising children who followed her example of being curious about the world around them and being of service to others.

Barbara is survived by Aaron, her loving husband of over 68 years, Pella; 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 her sister, Louella and Ed Scholtens of Green Lake, WI and her brother Ed and Julie Rathmell of Cedar Falls. Surviving sisters-in-law include Edna Koskamp and Mary Koskamp Thiel from WI and Jane Koskamp Ratmeyer from GA.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Eva Foss Rathmell, Aaron’s parents, Arthur and Martha Swart Koskamp, and in-laws Peter and Anna Koskamp, Paul Koskamp, Clarence Thiel, Rev. Luther Ratmeyer, and James Koskamp.

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