John L. “Jack” Carmichael

March 2, 1939 - September 29, 2016
John L. “Jack” Carmichael

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John L. “Jack” Carmichael passed away on September 29, 2016 after thirteen years battle with multiple myeloma. He was born in New Castle, Indiana to Freda Knecht and Emory Carmichael in 1939. Jack grew up in New Castle until age 14 when he went to St. Meinrad Seminary in southern Indiana where he studied for the priesthood for eight and a half years. In the fall of 1962, Jack then moved to St. Louis, Missouri and taught high school biology and health at Bishop DuBourg High School. He became a member of the young adult’s club at St. Joan of Arc parish where he met and married Patricia Luebbers. In 1964, Jack left teaching and started a career in the beverage industry with Pepsi Cola of New York. He then spent thirty-two years in the beverage industry with Pepsi Cola, Coca Cola, and Anheuser-Busch. The Carmichael’s moved nine times during his career which ended when he retired from Anheuser-Busch in 1997 in Williamsburg, Virginia. Jack’s expertise was quality assurance and production management; he was an advocate of Total Quality Control. He was a founder in building several Anheuser-Busch breweries, including Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as tripling the size of the Los Angeles brewery. In 1990, Jack was appointed by the Governor of Colorado to the State Board of Agriculture.

The Carmichael’s were involved with Catholic parishes at all the places where they lived and currently are members of St. Bede’s Roman Catholic Church in Williamsburg. Jack was known for his caring attitude and concern for others. He volunteered for numerous church and civic organizations including United Way, Chamber of Commerce, and various non-profits. At church, he taught classes to the middle school ages, helped with fundraisers, and maintenance of the facilities. Locally, he was involved in the development of the Leadership Historic Triangle program as well as the SERC mentoring program for MBA’s at the College of William and Mary. In addition, he served on the Board of Literacy for Life.

After retirement, Jack and Pat traveled the United States and Canada in their RV and were active in the Airstream Wally Byam Caravan Club. Jack enjoyed yard work, bike riding, reading, following sports, and spending time with his grandchildren. He was particularly interested in the St. Louis Cardinals, the Denver Broncos, the Indiana Hoosiers, and the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Jack is survived by his wife, Patricia of fifty-two years; one daughter, Lisa Carmichael, and her husband, John Preisser; two grandchildren, Hannah and Jack of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; brother, Fred of Arlington, Virginia, and a sister, Jo Ann Jones of New Castle, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Marion and a sister, Helen.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Bede’s Roman Catholic Church in Williamsburg, Virginia on October 7th at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in St. Ann’s cemetery in New Castle, Indiana at a later date.

Should friends desire memorial contributions, they may be made to the American Cancer Society and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Arrangements made by Bucktrout Funeral Home and Crematory of Williamsburg.


Service

Friday, October 7, 2016
11:00 AM

Saint Bede Catholic Church - Directions
3686 Ironbound Road
Williamsburg, VA 23188

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  • October 02, 2016
    Tom and Cathy Carmichael lit a candle:
    Lit since October 2, 2016 at 10:49:14 AM

  • October 02, 2016
    Johnny Coe says:
    Dear Pat, Lisa, John, Hannah and Jack So very sorry for your Loss. Jack was a remarkable man. One of the most sincere, genuine and caring men i've ever met. He will forever be missed by all who knew and loved him. My deepest and most sincere condolences to you at such a difficult time. Ar dheis de go raibh a anam Pax et bonum, Johnny Coe

  • October 02, 2016
    Myra Ann Rutledge and Dan Hinckley lit a candle:
    Lit since October 2, 2016 at 10:36:44 PM

  • October 02, 2016
    Steve and Janet Dyer says:
    Whenever questioned about my best friend growing up, the answer was Jack. In our younger years we were very close and I always valued this. My condolences to Pat and family. Janet and I will miss his phone calls and the visits that we enjoyed so much.

  • October 04, 2016
    Shelley Cole-Allen says:
    Our very sincerest condolences to you, Pat and Lisa, from the Anheuser-Busch Fort Collins Brewery "Start-Up" Team.