JOHN WILLIAM LUCHSINGER
1927-2020
John William Luchsinger died peacefully with his family by his side on Monday December 28, 2020 in Houston, Texas.
John was born on June 23, 1927 in St. Paul, Minnesota to William John Luchsinger and Jessie McGillivray Luchsinger. In 1942, the family moved to Duluth, Minnesota where John graduated from Central High School in 1944. In 1945, John joined the Army and studied Japanese. In 1946 he was assigned to a region north of Tokyo, Japan as part of the 441st Counter Intelligence Corps to monitor communist activity in the region. After the Army, John attended Case Institute to study mechanical engineering. Upon graduation in 1951, John began his successful 34-year career in the Chemicals Division of Union Carbide Corporation.
While studying at Case Institute, John met the love of his life, Amelia (Amy) Jackson Davis in 1948. The two were married in 1953 in West Point, Georgia. John and Amy had three children, Patricia, Peter and Mollie.
John’s career in the chemicals business moved the family all across the country from California, West Virginia, Georgia and Connecticut. Their travels also included 4 years in Geneva, Switzerland where John served as President of the Chemicals Division-Europe of Union Carbide. Upon his return to the United States, John became President of Union Carbide’s Polyolefin’s Division-US. Growth in sales and profits were a hallmark of his tenure and he was a key member of the executive leadership team and led the Union Carbide reorganization effort in 1984. He then left the company in 1985 to pursue opportunities with the Sterling Group in Houston, Texas where he had the honor and privilege to work alongside Gordon Cain to form Cain Chemical.
Shortly thereafter Cain Chemical was acquired by Occidental Petroleum. In 1990, John retired from the chemicals business to play golf and travel with Amy. In addition to golf, John had a passion for skiing. His goal was to be the first one on the chairlift in the morning and the last one down the mountain at the end of the day.
John was highly respected by friends and colleagues within many industries and was highly regarded by executives at E.I. DuPont, 3M, Dow Chemical and Owens Illinois. John was known for his intellect, business acumen, integrity, humility and his immense generosity. He had a strong faith in his Lord and Savior and was a devoted member of First Presbyterian Church of Houston. John’s true joy was his family. Amy was forever the center of his world and he loved his children, especially his four granddaughters.
His parents, William John Luchsinger and Jessie Luchsinger as well as his sister, Patty Kelley, and his wife of 66 years, Amy, preceded John in death. He is survived by his children, Patricia Ward of Boulder, Colorado; Peter Luchsinger of Boulder, Colorado; Mollie Castaneda (Dan) of Houston, Texas and his four granddaughters, Elysa Ward, Yuki Ward, Sarah Castaneda and Grace Castaneda. John is also survived by 4 nephews and a niece, Bill Kelley of California, Jim Kelley of Hudson, Florida, Mary Kay Kelley of Cambridge, Minnesota, Rich Kelley (Patty) of Eagan, Minnesota, and Jay Kelley (Lori) of Naperville, Illinois; and many great nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the numerous doctors and caregivers who have cared for John over the years with special gratitude to Dr. Hoermann and her staff at the Medical Clinic of Houston, Methodist Hospital, and Houston Hospice. They would especially like to thank Sofi Guillen and Cathy Lewis for their faithful dedication.
A private burial was held at the Marseilles Cemetery in West Point, Georgia on Saturday January 2, 2021.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in John’s name be made to First Presbyterian Church of Houston.
For online condolences please visit our website at www.blufftonfuneralservices.com.
Services have been entrusted to Bluffton Funeral Services, Lanett, Alabama.