Carl D. Leichty, along with his wife Sandra, dedicated 15 years of his life to mission work in Japan through the Mennonite Commission on Overseas Mission, a predecessor agency of Mennonite Mission Network. Their journey was marked by profound commitment, cultural immersion, and impactful community service. Carl passed away on October 9.
In 1962, Carl married Sandra Ann Cook. Soon after Carl started his teaching career at Lima (Ohio) City Schools, he and Sandra found their calling to mission work. Over the course of 22 years, Carl and Sandra served three separate terms, totaling 15 years in Japan.
Carl taught at Kagoshima University in Kagoshima and at Urawa Akenohoshi Saitama Girls’ Catholic High School in Midori-Ku, Saitama where he worked to bridge cultural gaps and foster mutual understanding. For seven years, Carl and Sandra lived in Tokyo where Carl taught at Rikkyo University and served at the Tokyo Area Fellowship of Mennonite Churches, a group of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches, where he built strong relationships.
Carl’s commitment to learning the Japanese language and immersing himself in local customs demonstrated his respect for the culture. This enabled better communication and earned him trust in the local community
The oldest of three sons, Carl was born in Berne, Indiana on March 25, 1939, to Oswald and Lillian (Burke) Liechty.
He graduated from Bluffton College in 1961. There, he set the school’s basketball team record for points, averaging twenty points per game.
Carl is survived by Sandra and two children, Georgia (Michael) Adams and Christopher (Julie) Liechty; and grandchildren Forest and Phoebe Adams, Lief (Gabriella), Noah, Magellan, and Brock Liechty, and Kimikai (Adams) Wheeler.
After returning to Ohio from Japan in 1986, Carl continued teaching, retiring from Lima City Schools in 1997.
A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, October 26 at Lima Mennonite Church, Lima, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to Lima Mennonite Church.
