Van Ee, Richard Lee 1944-2006

VAN EE, MEULPOLDER, ZAMORA

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/29/2006 at 20:56:59

Richard Lee Van Ee was born at Oskaloosa, Iowa on June 24, 1944. He was the first of four children that were born to Wilbur Lester and Johanna Stoffolina Meulpolder Van Ee.

Wilbur and Johanna had rented a farm northeast of Pella, Iowa until the spring of 1946 when they bought a farm a couple of miles closer to Pella where Richard was raised. Richard received his grade school education at the Flint Ridge Country Grade School near there and then attended Pella Public High School for two years. At the age of 12 years Richard learned to run a bulldozer, an occupation his father began pursuing in 1950. Then in 1964 he enlisted in the Iowa National Guard.

Richard served during the Vietnam War with the 184th Military Police. Richard worked with and for his Dad as a farmer and bulldozer operator.

On June 30, 1979, he was united in marriage with Doris Faye Zamora at the First Baptist Church in Pella. Faye, as she was known, and her son, Danti John Kirby, became a blended family. Richard remained a farmer and dozer operator the remainder of his life and also worked for Brackin Land Development and with Paul Vande Noord dozing. Anything outside, cutting firewood, burning brush were of interest to Richard; as well as riding a motorcycle. He had a total of 22 motorcycles during his lifetime of 61 years, 11 months and 13 days. His favorite, The FLH 1972 "sparkling burgundy rum" chopper was the bike he had purchased prior to his marriage and was the one he was riding at the time of his fatal motorcycle/truck accident on Wednesday evening, June 7, 2006, near his birthplace at Oskaloosa.

Richard enjoyed spending time with his family. They are his wife, Faye; his step-son Danti J. Kirby; three special grandchildren: Brooke, Stoyn and Skylar Kirby all of Pella; his mother, Johanna Van Ee of Pella; his younger brother, Verlan Ray Van Ee, who was born on June 16, 1946 and his wife, Marijo of Pella and their five children: Brad Van Ee and his wife, Leslie and their son, Teddy, of Woodenville, Washington, Brent Van Ee and his wife, Mara of Cummings, Iowa, Bridget Van Ee and her fiancé, Jeff Chapman of Clinton, Missouri, Doug Van Houwelingen of Leon, Iowa, Teri Van Houwelingen of San Clemente, California; a sister, Colleen Ruth Benes of Galesburg, Iowa, who was born on November 2, 1954, and her two children: Larissa and her husband, Alan De Bruin of Pella and Chandra Benes of Galesburg; and one brother-in-law, Jerry D. Loynachan of Pella.

Richard was preceded in death by his father, Wilbur L. Van Ee who passed away on May 18, 2004 at the age of 90 years; his oldest sister, Kathleen Joan Loynachan who passed away on August 12, 1999 at the age of just 47 years; two infant brothers who died two years apart; his maternal grandparents: Stoffel and Johanna Zweedyk Meulpolder; his paternal grandparents: Albertus (Bert) and Cornelius (Kate) Brack Van Ee; and his paternal step-grandmother, Nellie Dingeman Blum Van Ee.

Richard was affiliated with the American Legion and was proud of his involvement in the building of the Heartland Reformed Church at Pella, Iowa. Richard, a man of few smiles, had a way of making people laugh and smile. He will be dearly missed by his family and many friends.

For those desiring, the family suggests memorials may be given for the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella.

The Pella Chronicle, July 17, 2006