Wava Marie (Martin) VanBecelaere, 91, passed away on May 30 in Pittsburg, KS. Wava was born on Nov. 5, 1934, in Columbus, KS to Robert Lawrence and Cozy Anna (Draeger) Martin. She attended Richland Valley Elementary School in Columbus and Columbus High School. She graduated in 1952 and was employed by the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Pittsburg for five years. She married James D. VanBecelaere in 1957 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Pittsburg. On Dec. 28, 2025, they celebrated 68 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on March 25, 2026.
Wava fulfilled her lifetime dream of being a mother. Together, she and Jim raised eight children. In addition to being a homemaker, she served as the Vice-President and Board Member of VanBecelaere Machine Works of Pittsburg for 32 years alongside Jim who started the company in 1967. Her love for shopping evolved into a parttime job at Ramsay’s Department Store for a few years. She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes her entire adult life and was active in the parish and parish schools. She served on the St. Mary’s Colgan School Board, OLOL Altar Society, volunteered at the Good Will store, and spent endless hours in the stands cheering on the Colgan teams. She was also a loyal advocate for the lives of the unborn. She volunteered with Kansans for Life and Respect Life of Pittsburg.
In their retirement years, Wava and Jim traveled the country, often by motorcycle. Together, they enjoyed lovingly caring for their home and yard and spending time with their family and friends. Above all, Wava’s life was devoted to her faith, her husband, her children, and grandchildren. Throughout all the years, she was the first call to each of her children and grandchildren on their birthdays, never missing a single one. She is recognized by everyone of her family members as the mother who never stopped caring for others, even in her final days. Her labor of love as a mother and a grandmother was unmatched. Recently, she summed up her life in a simple phrase: “I was blessed to have the life I always wanted.”
Wava is survived by her eight children, seven of whom reside in Pittsburg: Jim (Annette), Vince (Theresa), Anna Boler (Larry), Audrey Dickey (Mike), John (Tracie), Alice Coltrane (Mike) of Wichita, Clara Barnes (Dave), and Joel (Ami).
Thirty-three grandchildren: Crezentia VanBecelaere (Danny Davis), Jimmy (Stacey), Jake (Kelly), Jessica (Craig) Helwig, Faith (Brandon) Hall / Erin (Mike) ODell, VJ (Brooke), Nathan (Rachel), Evan (Emily), Thomas (Rachel), Grace (Cody) Spencer / Ryan (Laura) Boler, Lindsey (Garrett) Forsythe, Jordan (Brian) Coomes, Chelsea (Kyle) Henry / Zac (Nicole) Dickey, Hillary (Brannon) Green, Emily Dickey, Billy Dickey / Mattie (Nathan) Toney, Garrett (Luci), Gabby (Kolton) Darrow, Dalton VanBecelaere / Margo (David) Kaufman, Brooke (Geoffrey) Amend, and Jace Coltrane / Adam (Hannah) Barnes, Marlie (Jake) Gillespie, Rachel (Austin) Panko, Carter (Chloe) Barnes / Marci (Clint) Heffern, Derek VanBecelaere, and Kelci VanBecelaere and 62 great grandchildren, with 4 on the way.
She is also survived by her brother, Loren Martin (Columbus) and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband (Jim), and three brothers: David
Martin, Dale Martin, and Virgil Martin.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Wava’s caregivers these past three months of her life, all who showed amazing love, care, and support throughout her illness: Kristy Hutchinson, Janessa Davis (great granddaughter), Rita Dawson, Penny Cook, Tonya Wertzberger, Maleia Sukraw, Kayla Hutchinson, Katie Heim, and Polona Kalan.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Friday, June 5, 2026, at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg, KS with Fr. Michael Simone as celebrant. Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church; family will receive friends following the rosary at the church. Friends and family can pay their respect at the funeral home after 1 p.m. Thursday. lieu of flowers, the family asks that expressions of sympathy be sent in the way of contributions to Vie Medical Clinic, Pittsburg or to Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Fund. Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com. Arrangements and services are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg, KS.
