John J Goebel

John Joseph Goebel passed away in Oak Brook, IL on August 15, 2017, fortified with the sacraments of  Holy Mother Church. He was born in St. Charles, MO on February 3, 1930. Jack was pre-deceased by his devoted wife of 54 years, Molly, and survived by his children, Laura Beath (Stuart), Margaret Fisher, John Goebel (Eve) and Matthew Goebel. He was loved as Papa by his 14 grandchildren: Stuart (Katherine), Matthew, Ben and Annie Beath; Baer (Caroline), Molly (Mikey), Sam, Oliver and Eliza Fisher; John, Augie and Andrew Goebel; and Will and Phoebe Goebel. Jack graduated from Barat Hall and St. Louis University High School (1947), received his B.S in Accounting cum laude from St. Louis University (1953) and an L.L.B. cum laude, Order of the Woolsack, from St. Louis University School of Law (1953), where he served as Editor of the SLU Law Journal. Jack was a lieutenant in the United States Air Force (1953 – 1955), serving as Assistant Judge Advocate for F.E. Warren Air Force Base (Cheyenne, WY). Jack joined Bryan Cave as an associate in 1956 and served as partner from 1966 to 1999, helping it grow from a 12-lawyer firm to one with more than 800 lawyers around the world. He was a member of the Executive Committee (20+ years), Chairman of the Corporate Department (15+ years) and Chairman of the Management Committee (12+ years). In 1998, his fellow partners dedicated a courtyard named in his honor at St. Louis University School of Law. The memorial plaque is inscribed to Jack “in special thanks for the years of guidance, counsel, advice and friendship that he has provided to all of us at Bryan Cave, to our clients and to the entire community.” After retiring, Jack co-founded Dream Harbors in Naples, FL, developing marinas and “dockominiums” on both coasts of Florida. Jack was a director of Wetterau Incorporated, Stifel Financial Corp., Brooks Fiber Optics, and EAC Corporation and was co-founder of a group that acquired, operated and then sold seven community banks in southern Illinois. He served on the Boards of Trustees for Maryville University, St. Louis Country Day School, Mary Institute, Villa Duchesne, Ronald Beasley School, and the Foundation for Special Education of Children. Jack’s favorite moments were with his family on the tennis courts at Bellerive and the beach at the Port Royal Club in Naples. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 19 at the Church of the Annunziata (9305 Clayton Rd., St Louis MO, 63124) at 10am, a family interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, and then a reception to celebrate Jack’s life will be held at Bellerive Country Club (12925 Ladue Rd., St Louis MO, 63141) at 12:30pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Food for the Poor (6401 Lyons Rd., Coconut Creek, FL 33073) or the Foundation for Special Education of Children (20 Archbishop May Dr., St. Louis, MO 63119).