Richarla Van Ee

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.

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