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Obituary for Charlene VanBecelaere
Charlene Marie VanBecelaere, was born on July 10, 1935 in Kansas City Missouri to Maurice and Ollie Kouns. She died at the age of 81 on Monday September 5, 2016 at Pleasant Valley Manor in Liberty, MO. She had a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, COPD and congestive heart failure. Her patience and graceful courage in the face of these many challenges was inspirational to family and friends. She was said to be a cat with 9 lives, and fought until the end.
She attended Northeast High School where she started dating the love of her life, Joseph VanBecelaere. They were married on May 29, 1954 at the Assumption Catholic Church in Kansas City, MO, and were together 53 years. Joe and Charlene had three daughters, Joan, Nancy and Donna.
Charlene was preceded in death by her husband Joseph VanBecelaere. Survivors include her daughters, Joan VanBecelaere and husband Jerry Wagenman, daughter Nancy Brown, and daughter Donna Power and her husband Mike. She also had two grandchildren who were the light of her life, Sean Power and Drew Power.
Charlene will be remembered for her smile and big heart. She was a loving mother and grandmother, and spent many years as the Youth League Coordinator and youth coach at Blue Springs Bowling Alley. She will be remembered as a good neighbor and a caring friend to those who knew her when she lived in Blue Springs MO, and at her retirement Lake Viking home in Gallatin MO. She collected new friends and touched the hearts of many caregivers at Our Lady of Mercy Country Home in Liberty and in her final years at Pleasant Valley Manor.
Charlene was a veteran square dancer who created and sewed colorful, coordinated dance costumes for herself and her husband Joe. She also used her sewing talent to make quilts, and as a member of the Lake Viking Quilting Club, donated hundreds of quilts to those in need. She was a member of the Lions Club and Homemakers Club at Lake Viking. Charlene had a kind, loving, generous heart and will be remembered for her graciousness by all who knew her.
Funeral services will 12:00 PM Friday September 9, 2016 at Souder Family Funeral Home with a visitation from 10:30 – 12:00 PM. Burial in Mt Olivet Cemetery following the service. Contributions are suggested to Three Rivers Hospice, 700 Branch St., Suite #4, Platte City, MO 64079.
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