Jan VanBeveren, 63, of Beaumont, died Sunday, June 26, 2011.  He was born on March 5, 1948, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Geert VanBeveren-Blok and Wil VanBeveren. Jan had lived in Beaumont since 2007.

Jan was an exceptional soccer player.  At the age of 17, he was a professional goal keeper for the soccer club Sparta in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.  From 1970 to 1980 he played for PSV in Eindhoven and with his team he won the European Championship in the 1973/74 season. He played thirty-two games for the Dutch National Team. From 1980 to 1984 he played for the Strikers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and from 1984 to 1985 for the Dallas Sidekicks.

Jan was currently Director of Training and Head Coach with the Spindletop Soccer League in Beaumont.

Jan is survived by his wife, Toosje VanBeveren of Dallas; sons, Raymond VanBeveren and his wife, Heidi of Atlanta and Roger VanBeveren and his wife, Melissa of Dallas; mother, Geert VanBeveren of Emmen, the Netherlands; step-daughter, Caroline Gehan and her husband, Glenn of Dallas; nine grandchildren; brothers, Wil VanBeveren and his wife, Corry and Jaap Van Beveren and his wife, Sonja all of the Netherlands; and the mother of his children, Petra VanBeveren.

A gathering of his family and friends will begin at 9:30 a.m. with his funeral service at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2011, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. 

A family committal will be at Broussard’s Crematorium under the direction of Broussard’s.

The Jan VanBeveren Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established to honor our friend and coach. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to SSSC, Jan VanBeveren Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 5275, Beaumont, Texas 77726.