John Jules Brasseur

John Jules Brasseur was born on June 13, 1938, in South Bend as the oldest son of Albert and Anne (Gladura) Brasseur.  He married the love of his life and high school sweet-heart Dawn Annette Brasseur (Larimer) on April 28, 1962, in St. Anthony’s Catholic Church South Bend, and she preceded him in death on January 20, 2021.   He was the Grandson of Jules and Eva Brasseur who had immigrated from France/Belgium.

John enjoyed being with family and friends, hosting parties and classically being one of the most funny and fun loving person to be around. His joking and humor was infectious and legendary, and one of the last things he would have wanted to say to us all as he passed is “Keep Your Tailgate Up”.  He was an amazing father, a strong man who shared his beliefs freely, and was always listening and helping anyone who needed it and or worked for it.   Family tradition and leadership was big with him with 50 years of traveling to the annual Turkey Run State Park camping trip, sitting by the campfire, teaching and passing on love and family history to the kids, riding bikes and hiking.  He enjoyed wintering in the motorhome in Fort Myers, Florida with Dawn, and visiting their close friends and family.  He loved being active in life playing tennis in his earlier days and Golf in his later days (especially the Sunday morning group with the Hahns at Eberhart and enjoying playing in the Knights of Columbus league in Mishawaka).  He loved music and playing drums which carried on the tradition of music from his father (Albert played trumpet for Knute Rockne’s funeral), and also passing on his love of musical talents to other family members.  He played many concerts in the Mishawaka area, and his band “The Rhythm-aires” was well known in the area and for playing on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Hour and providing entertainment at the local Playland Park (the place to be in 1954!).  He was always working in his garage on projects, enjoying the outdoors on his property, and especially the unique hobby of tracking the age of things by dating almost everything, to see how long something (anything) would last.  He followed in his father’s footsteps and continued to build a successful insurance business (Associated Underwriters, Inc.) for over 60 years of his life.  He was drafted and served in the Army with an honorable discharge in 1966.  He was a dedicated Mishawaka Rotarian, a Mishawaka High School and Indiana University Graduate (go Sigma Nu) and loved giving back to the community and practicing and supporting his Catholic faith at St. Joseph Church.

John traveled to amazing places with Dawn, his wife and companion of 58 years.  They visited the Swiss Alps, Germany, Europe, Sweden, Hawaii, and the Caribbean Islands as well as their annual trips to Florida motor-homing and riding his bike to a local fun-stops and just watching the Pelicans (his favorite bird) fly in.  One of his favorite things to do was fixing almost anything and refinishing the Antiques that Dawn would buy, and then stocking her shop in South Haven (one of their favorite places to visit).  His favorite drink was Chilled Red Wine with a shot of Vodka in it and recently coined by his kids and grandkids as the “Brasseur Ball Buster”.

John J. Brasseur, 84, passed away on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, surrounded by his family.  John is survived by his children, John (Cindy) Brasseur Jr., Jeff (Becky) Brasseur and Nicole (Scott) Leonard; grandchildren, John J. Brasseur III, Lauren N. Brasseur, Harrison (Rikki) Brasseur, Jake Brasseur, Hannah Kennedy, Cora Leonard, Charlie Leonard, Emily Brasseur (Jaime) Cottier, Olivia Brasseur, Allie Brasseur, Sophie Brasseur, Taylor Davis and Chandler Davis, Brooke and Sierra Stamm; six great grandchildren; two brothers, Albert Brasseur and Gregg (Linda) Brasseur; and he was preceded in death by his sister, Patty Brasseur (Bryant).

The world lost a wonderful person and heaven gained a great one.  We will all miss you so much!

Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 25 in Hahn Funeral Home 505 W. 8th Street Mishawaka, IN from 2:00 – 6:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:00 pm Monday, September 26 in St. Joseph Catholic Church Mishawaka with Rev. Chris Lapp officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park Cemetery, Granger.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made in John’s name to the Center for Hospice, 505 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545 or St. Joseph Catholic Church, 225 S. Mill Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544.

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