John Van Den Abeele

       John Patrick Van Den Abeele, 72, passed away on July 10, 2025, after battling an illness. Born on December 17, 1952, he was the beloved son of Camiel A. Van Den Abeele and Irene (Lombardini) Van Den Abeele, who both preceded him in death.

       John had a deep appreciation for exploration and the outdoors, fostered early in life by memorable road trips and vacations with his parents and maternal grandparents. Together, they traveled across the United States, visiting numerous national parks and even venturing into Italy—experiences that left a lasting impression on him.

       A proud graduate of Purdue University, John earned his degree in engineering, a masters degree from IUSB in business administration, and went on to enjoy a successful career at Bendix Corporation in South Bend, where he designed and tested aircraft braking system components.

       John also had a lifelong passion for music which began when he played trumpet in the Mishawaka High School band, but it was the bass guitar that became his instrument of choice. A talented and dedicated musician, he played in several bands over the years, including Monkey Butter, a spirited rock trio from the early 1970s, and Shadow Lane, a versatile four-piece band that performed for many years. In 1972, John competed in the 4-H "Battle of the Bands" with a seven-piece ensemble and won first place, though the title was later revoked due to a technicality involving one member’s union affiliation. John was not at fault and remained proud of the band’s achievement.

       Over the years, John amassed an impressive collection of electric bass guitars and an upright acoustic bass. His passion for sound engineering extended to building his own performance speaker cabinets, culminating in a patented design he had planned to produce or license.

       John will be remembered for his intellect, his creativity, and his lifelong dedication to both engineering and music.

       A small Graveside Service will be held on July 16, 2025, at 11:00 AM, in Fairview Cemetery. Hahn Funeral Home has been entrusted with the final arrangements and extends their deepest sympathies to the Van Den Abeele family.

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