John "Mike" M. Schmitt

John Michael Schmitt of Carmel, IN, born on April 27, 1939, 85, made his final journey to the lord March 3, 2025.

He is preceded in death by his beautiful wife Nannette Toups Schmitt of 54 years, daughter Lisa, and his parents Richard B. Schmitt, Alice Manning Schmitt, and brother Lawrence Schmitt. He is survived by his daughter Erin (Jack) Beery, grandsons Britt Beery and Bryce Beery, daughter Deborah Schmitt, cousins John (Nancy) Wolf, Fritz (Sharon) Kreutzinger, brother-in-laws Peter (Denise) Toups and Prosper (Beverly) Toups, sister-in-law Fay Toups, as well as many nieces and nephews.

“Mike” was a true American hero and a Renaissance man. He grew up in Indianapolis, graduating from Cathedral HS 1957. He then went on to Xavier University (class of 1961) in Cincinnati for both undergraduate and graduate school. During that time, he joined the Knights of Columbus and was a 4th degree Knight and a member of the glee club at Xavier University.

After college he joined the Army and was stationed in Huntsville, Alabama, as an Army intelligence agent. After Army Ranger school, he had some exciting stories, some he could tell, and others were top secret, and he took those with him.

In 1962, Mike was instrumental in the desegregation of the University of Mississippi when he went undercover as a student guarding James Meredith. Unfortunately, that day ended with gunfire, and Mike has a reminder as he was hit in the lower back at Ole Miss riot of 1962.

As an Army intelligence agent, he had to interview Dr. Werner Von Braun several times at Redstone Arsenal. At the start of The NASA space program the German astrophysicist was seeking top security clearance, mentioning “Schmitt” was a good German name.

In 1963, he was honored with a position in President John F. Kennedy's Honor Guard when he visited Redstone Arsenal on Armed Forces Day in 1963 and again on Veterans Day in Washington, DC.

While in the Army, he also competed on the international judo team, having earned a 3rd degree black belt in judo. Unfortunately, his competitive career ended in 1968.

The most important event in his Army career was when Mike met Nan at the community center over the pool table. Nan was working in anesthesia at the local hospital. They dated for 6 months and got married in Houma, La. In 1964. Mike often chuckled when he told the story of meeting Nan's strapping large brothers and asking Paw Paw if he could marry Nan by the hog pen.

During the 54 years of marriage, they had their first daughter, Lisa, who passed away after 10 days. A year later they welcomed their daughter Erin, and 2 years later Debbie was born.

Mike was a businessman working various executive positions in Tampa, West Palm Beach, Homestead & Miami, Fla. He took a position with the Michelin tire company, which brought him to Clermont-Ferrand, France, for 3 years, then on to Greenville, SC.

Mike and Nan eventually came back to his hometown, Indianapolis, in 1979 and then settled in Crooked Stick in Carmel, IN.

When he returned to Indy, he worked for Bio Dynamics (now Roche DX). At the request of his father, he then started working with the family Insurance business, eventually taking over the Richard B Schmitt Agency.

As a renaissance man, Mike had many hobbies. While living in Florida, he developed a love for the ocean. He became a master scuba diver, diving all over the world, and also taught classes at the local YMCA. He was an avid fisherman (deep sea and fly fishing), spending weekends in the Keys. After spending several months on the weekend in the Keys, he learned that one of his fishing buddies was the famous baseball legend, Ted Williams. Mike had no idea that “Teddy” even played baseball.

Mike had many other hobbies and was always learning a new skill. He started ironworking and met his friend, artist Bob Ferguson. Bob and Mike started the Iron Forge in Whitestown, IN (now LA Cycle). They forged several pieces that are still located around Indy. One of the pieces they forged was the Bronzed Lilies on the Eli Lilly Mausoleum in Crown Hill Cemetery. For many years, until 2016, above the Space Quest dome at the children’s museum, the sphere of Earth was made of copper that they had constructed.

Everyone knew Mike was also an avid hunter, spending free time muzzle loading and spending time doing the Civil War reenactments at Conner Prairie all around the Midwest.

In 1998, Mike & Nan retired back to Florida, settling in Punta Gorda Isle. They enjoyed retirement, fishing, boating, reading everything and traveling all around the world. A trip to the Vatican with their church choir, allowed them to sing for the Pope in the audience hall.

Mike decided, as an avid cook, to attend culinary school. He continued his love for cooking but never cleaned up after himself. He was a true Chef.

After 16 years in Florida, Mike & Nan returned to Carmel, IN. They were so excited to get back and spend time with family, especially their 2 grandsons. You’d often see them attending Carmel Dads Club football and basketball games, for Britt and Bryce, following them through their middle school and high school careers, cheering them on in 3 State championships (1 football and 2 Basketball) at Carmel High school. Mike loved going down to Bloomington to watch Britt play football at Indiana University.

In 2018, Mike lost the love of his life, Nan. It was an adjustment for him, but Mike was involved in the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church Choir and had his weekly lunch with the guys; that kept him busy.

In the fall of 2023, Mike moved to Copper Trace Assisted Living and settled in with his fellow residents, table mates and could be seen playing Bingo, Cornhole, and Skipbo.

We want to Thank the entire Copper Trace family for the care during his time there.

His faith as a Roman Catholic was the most important thing to him, and he spent his last years as a scholar of Catholic history. Mike is going to be truly missed but never forgotten. Till we meet again, Captain Papa Mike.

Memorial contributions can be made to The Carmel Dads' Club. 

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, March 14th, 2025, at 10:30am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (10655 Haverstick Rd. Carmel, IN 46033). A Visitation for family and friends will be held at 9am until time of Mass on March 14th, 2025, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. A graveside service will follow at Oaklawn Memorial gardens Cemetery.