Robert Liechty

Rev. Robert “Bob” Liechty, 90, of Berne passed away Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at Swiss Village in Berne. He was born August 4, 1931, in Berne to Robert Urban and Emma Rose (Sprunger) Liechty. He was married June 22, 1957, in Wadsworth, Ohio to Margaret Ann “Peggy” Owen.
He 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 graduated from Berne-French High School in 1949. After high school, he worked with Indiana Construction of Fort Wayne. He attended Fort Wayne Bible College from 1955 to 1960 and graduated with a bachelor of theology degree.
He served as senior pastor of Grace Missionary Church in Mooresville, 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. He and his wife 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. 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 wife of Berne; two sons, Eric (Denise) Liechty of St. Charles, Illinois; and Scott (Andrea) Liechty of West Chicago, Illinois; daughter, Heidi Leffler of West Chicago, Illinois; brother, Loren Liechty of Berne; 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.
He was preceded in death by his parents; 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.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 16 from 6-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the 10 a.m. funeral service Friday, December 17 at First Missionary Church in Berne. Officiating will be Pastor Todd Habegger, Pastor Rick Schwartz and Pastor Eric Liechty. Burial will be at MRE Cemetery in Berne. For those unable to attend, the service will be live streamed through the church at www.fmcberne.com.
Memorials may be made to First Missionary Church in Berne.    
Arrangements provided by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel in Berne. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.zwickjahn.com.