UPDATED on October 14

Carl David Liechty, 85, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at his residence in Bluffton. 

Carl was born in Berne, Indiana on March 25, 1939, to Oswald and Lillian (Burke) Liechty who preceded him in death. 

He was the oldest of three sons, followed by Lynn and Robert Lee Liechty who both precede him in death. Carl graduated from Berne-French High School in 1957, and Bluffton College in 1961. There he starred in basketball, being named to the Mid-Ohio league first five his senior year, where he set the school record for points, averaging twenty points per game. 

In June of 1962, he was united in marriage to Sandra Ann (Cook) Liechty, the “love of his life”, who survives. Together they raised two children, Georgia (Michael) Adams and Christopher (Julie) Liechty. Carl was blessed with six grandchildren; Forest and Phoebe Adams, Lief (Gabriella), Noah, Magellan, and Brock Liechty, and one special granddaughter, Kimikai (Adams) Wheeler. 

Carl started his teaching career in the Lima City Schools from 1962 to 1965, after which he and Sandra found their calling to mission work in Japan. They served for 15 years on three separate terms through the Mennonite Commission on Overseas Mission. They were stationed in Miyazaki and Kagoshima on the island of Kyushu, and they also served seven years in Tokyo with the Tokyo Area Fellowship of Mennonite Churches. Carl taught at Kagoshima University, Rikkyo University, and at Akenohoshi Saitama Girls’ School. He also taught and coached basketball at his alma mater, and for three years in Archbold, Ohio. He taught ten more years in the Lima City Schools as a senior Civics and Economics teacher, retiring from teaching in 1997; then driving school bus from ten more years until 2007.

Carl was an avid sports fan and model railroader. He will be remembered fondly for always taking time with his grandchildren and many other children to show them his handmade realistic model railroad layouts. It was his great pleasure to play conductor and drive his Lionel trains about, lighting them up in the dark and driving them whistling and blowing artificial smoke through tunnels and over realistic bridges and trestles.

Carl was a sincere student of the scriptures, spending many hours reading Biblical history, theology, and deeply pondering the parables of Jesus. He will be remembered for loving a good debate, for counseling and guiding all peoples of all ages and persuasions in life, for his thoughtful spiritual advice, and his voluntary service and support in many ways until the very end. 

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. at Lima Mennonite Church, 1318 N. Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45801 with Pastor Jeff Boehr to officiate the service. Visitation will be Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. until the time of the service, at the church. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Good Heart Ministry, which supports an orphanage and Lima area ministries through Lima Mennonite Church. 

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com/