Stephen James Liebsch of Warsaw, Indiana was swept into the arms of Jesus on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at I.U. Health Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis, Indiana at the age of 66 after a three year journey with liver failure.
He was born on March 12, 1956 in Oak Park, Illinois to Marilyn Edna (Piotter) and Arthur Richard Liebsch. His father died when Stephen was young, and he was raised by his mother and his new dad, Don James. He was one of eleven children, and growing up in a large family he always had siblings in school with him and someone he could always count on when needed. He was a 1974 graduate of Oak Park River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois and after graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 30, 1974. His duties were with the Military Police, 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky and he served until his honorable discharge in 1977.
On October 18, 1975, he married Holly Horton, and they were blessed with three children and 46 years of marriage before he passed away. Stephen was an avid reader, and he loved learning. He graduated in June of 1982 with a Bachelor of Science from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee and later earned his Master of Divinity from Goshen Biblical Seminary in Goshen, Indiana in September of 1992.
Stephen loved his God, his Family, and his Country and everything he did in his life reflected those priorities. He graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy in Donelson, Tennessee in February of 1981. On October 17, 1993 he was ordained at Community Church in Clarksville, Tennessee. He had a passion for coaching fast pitch softball and was honored to serve as the head softball coach at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana from January 1997 to June 2009. He was the Human Resources manager for training and development at Cardinal Services from October 1990-November 2011; and was a certified EPIC trainer of electronic medical records and an instructional designer at Parkview Health from September 2012 to April 2019.
Stephen may have had a short 66 years on this earth, but he filled every second of his life being surrounded by those he loved most. He will forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to many, and he will be dearly missed by all who were fortunate to have known him.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Holly Liebsch (Warsaw, Indiana), son, David (Sandi) Liebsch (Columbus, Georgia), two daughters, Rachel (Will) Harrison (Columbia, South Carolina) and Michelle (Rob) Cover (Warsaw, Indiana). Stephen leaves behind seven grandchildren, Allen and Jacob Wilson, Gabriella, Daniela, Mikayla, Stefan, and William Harrison; as well as six sisters, Diane (Jerry) Schneder, Patty (Larry) Schrimsher, Joan Dodd, Cheryl Regalado, Sherry (Louis) Johnson, Nancy (Richard) Falls, and three brothers, Tom (Janice) James, Jim James, and Brian James. He was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Marilyn James, and his brother, Donny James.
Stephen’s life will be celebrated with a memorial service which will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at Christ’s Covenant Church, 2090 E. Pierceton Road, Winona Lake, Indiana officiated by Pastor Rod Valentine and assisted by Pastor Rob Cover and Archdeacon Will Harrison. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana. He will be laid to rest at a later date at Marion National Cemetery in Marion, Indiana.
Memorial donations may be directed to Christ’s Covenant Church Benevolence Fund, 2090 E. Pierceton Road, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.
