Rev. Robert Liechty

Rev. Robert "Bob" Liechty, 90, of Berne, Indiana passed away Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at Swiss Village in Berne, Indiana.

He was born on August 4, 1931 in Berne, Indiana to the late Robert Urban Liechty and Emma Rose (Sprunger) Liechty.

Robert served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War where he was honorably discharged as a Sergeant E-5 following his term of duty.

He was united in marriage to Margaret Ann “Peggy” Owen on June 22, 1957 in Wadsworth, Ohio.

Bob graduated from Berne – French High School in 1949.  After high school, he worked with Indiana Construction of Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He attended Fort Wayne Bible College from 1955 to 1960 and graduated with a Bachelor of Theology Degree.

Bob served as senior pastor of Grace Missionary Church in Mooresville, Indiana, Lakeview Church in Zion, Illinois, First Missionary Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Union Chapel Missionary Church in Lima, Ohio.  While in Florida, he served as District Superintendent for the Missionary Church from 1985 to 1991.

During his ministry from 1960 to 1996, he helped build several new sanctuary buildings, start new churches and had a growing ministry in all the churches he served.  Over 3,000 people made first-time decisions for Christ in his 40 years of ministry including 50 evangelistic meetings.

While pastoring in Zion, he preached on the Lakeview Church Worship Broadcast for 18 years on a local radio station. He served as an officer of the Zion Benton Ministerial Association, the Jubilee Day Committee, and led the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast for 13 years. He served as the General Chairman of the Lake County, Illinois Evangelistic Crusade.  He was honored as “Pastor Emeritus” of Lakeview Church where he had served for 20 years. Rev. Liechty, with his wife Peggy, traveled to 18 countries where he led tours and preached.

After retirement in 1996, he continued to live in Lima, Ohio until 2002 when he moved to Swiss Village North Campus in Berne, Indiana.  While in Berne, he served as Chaplain of the South Adams Ministerial Association and coordinator for the Community Union Meeting held with Dr. Erwin Lutzer.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Peggy Liechty of Berne, Indiana; two sons, Eric (Denise) Liechty of St. Charles, Illinois and Scott (Andrea) Liechty of West Chicago, Illinois; daughter, Heidi Leffler of West Chicago, Illinois; a brother, Loren Liechty of Berne, Indiana; eight grandchildren, Jonathan Liechty, Kristen Schlais, Brian Leffler, Rachel Ostrowski, David Leffler, Maggie Liechty, Jack Liechty, and Gretchen Liechty; and three great-grandchildren, William Liechty, Cohen Ostrowski, and Seth Liechty.

Bob was preceded in death by a son-in-law, James Leffler; four brothers, Samuel, James, Gordon and Melvin Liechty and four sisters, Corena Liechty, Colleen Smith, Anna Roop, and Berneta Lehman.

Funeral services for Bob will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 17, 2021, at the First Missionary Church in Berne with Pastor Todd Habegger, Pastor Rick Schwartz and Pastor Eric Liechty officiating. Burial will take place at M.R.E. Cemetery in Berne, Indiana. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed through the church at www.fmcberne.com .

Friends and family will be received from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at the First Missionary Church Sanctuary and one hour prior to the service Friday at the church.

Preferred memorials are to First Missionary Church – Berne.

Arrangements are by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel in Berne, Indiana.