Patricia Jane Van Ballegooijen

Patsy Van Ballegooijen, 64, of Overlook Circle, Euharlee, Georgia, passed away Saturday, February 18, 2012. She was the quintessential southern lady, and shared her life for the past 36 years with her husband, Jack Van Ballegooijen. Patsy treasured her husband Jack and supported him as no other could.

As she traveled the country with Jack from California to New Mexico to California to Florida to California and, finally, back to Georgia, Patsy excelled in her careers as a banker, a Realtor, an executive assistant, a property manager, and an all around administrator. Her most favorite position was as the executive assistant to the principal managers of the Light and Sound Division/Production Resource Group where she worked coordinating entertainment lighting for famous acts around the world. Shows she supported while at LSD included, among many others, Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond, Elton John, Amy Grant, and Cher.

She loved to garden in her back yard in Shaw Woods, and she loved working with children. Solving jigsaw puzzles was one of her great passions as were the Halloween and Christmas holidays when she could best interact with the children in her community. Her love of life was spread generously over her family, her three cats, and all the animals that visited in her gardens. She touched many, many lives, and never knew a stranger. Regardless of how much or how little she had, there was always enough to share with another.

Mrs. Van Ballegooijen was born October 18, 1947 in Dekalb County. She was brought up in the Lutheran church, but for the past 32 years she was of the Methodist faith. She was an avid believer in the inspirational messages delivered weekly by Robert Schuler, Sr. of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, and by Joel Osteen of the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. She believed deeply in God and angels, and she lived and loved her life giving others hope and joy regardless of their circumstances.

Patsy graduated from the Tallulah Falls School in Tallulah Falls, Georgia, and remembered her days there fondly throughout her life. A perpetual scholarship in the name of Patsy Belcher Van Ballegooijen is being established to recognize and honor her regard and respect for the school. In lieu of flowers, please send any memorial gifts to the Tallulah Falls School, Development Department, P.O. Box 10, Tallulah Falls, Georgia 30573, and designate your gift as contributing to the Patsy Belcher Van Ballegooijen Scholarship.

Patsy was preceded in death by her father, Ray Kent Belcher, in 2005, and by her step father, Freddie Fain, in 2011. Surviving is her husband, Jack Van Ballegooijen of Euharlee, Georgia; step daughters, Eden Leigh Van Ballegooijen of Auburn, Washington, and Dana Joelle Keitel of San Jose, California; Patsy’s mother, Jane Fain of Woodstock, Georgia; two grandsons, Mason and Felix in San Jose, California; sisters, Becky Caldwell of Tucker, Georgia, Jenny Fain of Woodstock, Georgia, and Carmen Dillard of Beaufort, South Carolina; brothers, Winfred Belcher of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Carlton Belcher of Duluth, Georgia, Mark Belcher, and Jay Belcher of Stone Mountain, Georgia; step mother, Peggy Belcher of Stone Mountain, Georgia; eleven nieces and nephews including John Van Ballegooijen and David Van Ballegooijen of Portland, Oregon whom, for three years, she raised as her very own.

Patsy wanted no formal viewing or funeral service, but requested instead an informal gathering be held at the Van Ballegooijen Home in Euharlee. This is planned to occur from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 3, 2012.

Please go to www.owenfunerals.com to post tributes and sign her online guestbook.

Owen Funeral Home, 12 Collins Drive Cartersville, Georgia is in charge of the arrangements.