- Date Of Birth: March 11, 1932
- Date Of Death: June 15, 2022
- State: Iowa
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.
At home, it was hard to separate the mothering role from the teaching role.
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.
