Constance Joan Golden Van Tatenhove

Constance “Connie” Joan Golden Van Tatenhove was born in Yuma, AZ. She passed away peacefully on March 31 at the age of 87 at Wesley Village in Wilmore, KY. Due to her severe asthma, before she was one year old, the family made the move to San Diego, California. She was very proud of her younger brother John. Connie is survived by her loving husband Fred, her daughter Larissa and son in law David Swalander and her grandchildren Erik and Emma Swalander. Her beautiful grandchildren through marriage, Cooper, Catherine, Davis, Tanner, Ella and Eva Frances. Fred’s children Greg and Christy Van Tatenhove and Rick and Jana Baldwin always made her feel so loved and included. Connie truly felt blessed to be part of this wonderful family and loved deeply and faithfully.

Connie’s early faith and commitment to Christ came and was nurtured by her mother who held children Bible studies in her home. In high school Connie was active in Youth for Christ. She loved music and learned to play the cello. In college she played the piano for quartets and at small churches. She began college at San Diego State, then transferred to Azusa Pacific University and graduated with a major in education. While teaching she completed a Masters in Psychology from Pasadena Nazarene College with courses from USC. For 35 years she was a school psychologist working with students who had special needs. She became a certified Marriage and Family Counselor working with a local private counseling center.

She married John Koeker in 1960 and they had a daughter, Larissa Joy. Through Connie’s experiences and challenges of being a single mother, she founded and was president of the charity, Cherish the Children. CTC received grants from Disneyland, the Orange County Register, church budgets, and individual donations. The charity provided assistance for single parents for child care.

Connie reconnected with her college sweetheart, Fred Van Tatenhove and they were married in September of 2004. For their first 16 years they split their time between Connie’s home in Truckee, California, just north of Lake Tahoe, and the home they built together in Danville, Kentucky. The building of their beautiful home on the Old Bridge Golf Course was a labor of love and allowed Connie to express her artistic abilities. She was a talented artist with an eye for design. During her summer break she worked for a florist, cultivating her skill for flower arranging. Seventeen feet of snow one winter moved them from Truckee to Reno, Nevada. They sold their home in Danville and purchased a condo in Brannon Gardens, Kentucky. 

One of Connie’s favorite trips before Larissa was born was a two month visit to Europe. She loved it so much that Fred and Connie traveled to Europe, took a cruise to Quebec City and the Maritime provinces. COVID cancelled their planned two week trip to Italy and their trip to the Holy Land. They also enjoyed vacations in Florida, Hawaii, multiple National Parks in the West and Eastern part of the country. All of Connie’s favorite places to visit were anywhere near the ocean. Pismo Beach, California held a special place in her heart. 

A memorial service for Connie is planned for Friday, April 4th, 2:30 pm at Wesley Village Community in Wilmore, Kentucky. Betts & West is honored to serve Connie and her family in their time of need. An online guestbook is available at www.BettsAndWestFuneralHome.com