Camiel VAN DEN ABEELE

13 JUL 1922 - 29 JAN 2022

• BIRTH: 13 JUL 1922, Mishawaka, St Joseph, IN
• DEATH: 29 JAN 2022, Mishawaka, St Joseph, IN

• MARRIAGE: 12 APR 1947, St Bavo Catholic Church, Mishawaka, IN

INDEX

[N31331] Camiel A. Van Den Abeele
July 13, 1922 - January 29, 2022

Camiel A. Van Den Abeele, 99, passed away on Saturday, January 29, 2022. Camiel was born on July 13, 1922, in Mishawaka, IN to Irma (Van Renterghem) and Raymond Van Den Abeele, both of whom immigrated from Belgium and were married in 1911 and preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Germaine Elbode and his brother, Marcel Van Den Abeele. Camiel spoke Flemish, learning native language of his parents who spoke it at home On April 12, 1947, Camiel married Irene Lombardini who preceded him in death on July 18, 2021. Camiel and Irene are survived by a son, John Van Den Abeele.Camiel was employed by the Oliver / White Farm Corporation beginning with accounting and advancing to computer programming, systems analysis, manager of payroll, and retired in 1988. To keep busy Camiel subsequently volunteered at the Oliver Mansion and worked for several years in the St Joseph County Assessor’s Office. Before he joined the Oliver Corporation Camiel held a variety of jobs including at the Mishawaka Dairy as a teenager, rising before dawn to drive a truck to pick up raw milk from local farmers, delivering processed milk in a horse drawn wagon to local homes, and sterilizing used milk cans. During the Great Depression Camiel joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps.) where he worked in forestry giving part of his paycheck to help his parents. Camiel enlisted in the Army during World War II and because of his hobby of photography and the fact that he was blind in one eye since childhood he was not placed in combat but was assigned to the 16th Special Service Co. As a Tech 5 projectionist where he showed training and r&r (rest & recuperation) entertainment films. He crossed the English Channel several weeks after D-Day and was assigned to General Courtney Hodges headquarters in Spa Belgium where he bunked under the stage of a casino. On one occasion he showed some r&r films at a then secret meeting of several Generals of the European Theatre including Generals Hodges, Omar Bradley, Anthony McAuliffe, and Dwight Eisenhower who was serving as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe. At the end of the meeting General Eisenhower shook Camiel’s hand and thanked him.In addition to photography Camiel enjoyed his dogs Spa, Boots & Thunder, canoeing, fishing, computer programming, history, genealogy, and travel and took Irene and John on many vacations in the U.S and Canada, some of which included Irene’s parents. Camiel was a member of St Bavo Catholic Church and a lifetime member of the BK Club and VFW Post 360. Camiel asked that his obituary conclude with “I had my nickel’s worth of life. Goodbye for now. See you all later”. Visitation will be 10-11:30 am on Thursday, February 10th in Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka. Services will begin at 11:30 am with Father Pete Pacini officiating. A private burial will take place in Fairview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for Camiel may be made to St. Bavo Church, 511 W. 7th Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544, Heartland Hospice of Mishawaka, 230 W. Catalpa Drive, Mishawaka, IN 46545 or the Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hahnfuneralhomes.com.

Posted online on February 07, 2022
Published in South Bend Tribune