Kelly Patrick Liebrecht

Kelly Liebrecht passed away on January 14, 2025, at the age of 52, in true Kelly fashion: unpredictably and leaving us all wondering what just happened. A man known for saying, “Worst case scenario,” this time, unfortunately, proved him right.

Kelly’s legacy lives on through his two daughters, Sarah and Emmalee Liebrecht, whom he loved fiercely, and his dog Koda who he loved even more. Koda, his faithful companion, was the apple of his eye, and the two were actually inseparable. 

A lover of loud music, fast cars, and taking chances, Kelly lived life at full throttle. If it had an engine, he drove it; if it was a good rock album, he played it. 

Kelly was an innovator, a creative, a math whiz, a businessman, and a collector of many, many things. If you ever needed something—anything—you could bet Kelly had one in a pile somewhere. His collections included trinkets that now serve as tiny monuments to his memory, vinyl records of rock legends, cars both mini sized Hot Wheels, and full size ones, including a Firetruck, which he loved telling people about. —because who doesn’t need one of those? 

He taught his kids countless things, from how to play soccer, drive a car, change spark plugs, unclog a toilet, to retrieving stolen items, avoiding creditors, how to play blackjack at 5 years old and the best way roll a joint. Through his lessons, Kelly passed on not only knowledge but a way of living—encouraging Sarah and Emmalee to pursue anything they wanted and reminding them they could succeed at whatever they set their minds to. 

Kelly’s laugh was one-of-a-kind: loud, full, and contagious. His smile, equally unforgettable, came with a twinkle in his eye that made you feel like you were in on the joke, even if you weren’t. 

We have reason to believe one of his favorite places was Jamaica. We like to picture him now, sitting on a beach chair, listening to Bob Marley, a freshly rolled J in hand, looking out at the ocean and saying, “It is what it is.” 

In honor of Kelly, we invite you to crack open a soda, wince at the carbonation, and let out a good “AHHHHHHHHH” in his memory. Or, better yet, pass along a piece of advice he would’ve given: treat people with kindness, let things go when they don’t matter, and always tell those you love how much you care. 

Kelly surprised us all by eluding his demise time and time again, but this time he assures us it’s the real deal. He will be deeply missed, and his memory will live on in the laughter and stories he left behind. 

Please share your best memories and photos of Kelly.