John J. Liebl

John Liebl, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on January 5, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
John is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Barbara Wyskup Liebl. He is also survived by his daughters, Sharrel Foley (Daniel) and their sons, Nathan and Stuart; Connie Lindsay (Jeff); and his son, David Liebl (Diane) and their daughters, Katie and Elena.
John and Barbara met while attending a meeting on the OSU campus. When Barbara first saw John speaking on stage, she thought to herself, "That man is going to be my husband." Eleven months later, they were married – beginning a lifelong partnership filled with love, adventure, and shared purpose.
He was born on August 8, 1935, in Oklahoma City to Victor and Verda Liebl, John was the oldest of two children and grew up in Loyal, Oklahoma. His love for farming began early. While still in the eighth grade, he purchased his first Black Angus cow. That small beginning grew into a herd of 130 head. John truly loved his cattle, often commenting on their "pretty faces," and he continued caring for his herd until just months before his death.
John had a lifelong spirit of curiosity and adventure. As a child, he taught himself to swim in the creek behind his home and ordered and built his own motorbike – faster than traveling by horse. He shared that adventurous spirit with his family through summer camping trips, water skiing, and annual Christmas and Spring Break ski trips, where everyone learned to ski.
John was a lifelong learner. After retirement, he traveled extensively across the United States attending organic farming conferences and taking in the sights along the way. He read more than 50 books on organic farming, soil minerals, and crop production specific to Oklahoma, carefully highlighting passages and tucking handwritten notes into their pages. Self-taught and forward-thinking, he was ahead of his time in helping the family farm become organically certified in 2015.
Travel brought John great joy. He and Barbara explored the Caribbean, France, Germany, Malta, and Croatia, and enjoyed cruises to Alaska, Mexico, and along the Rhine Rover. John also loved music and dancing. He delighted in surprising his family with tickets to see Neil Diamond in concert and treasured trips to Broadway shows in New York City, including seeing Neil Diamond perform at Madison Square Garden. A favorite family memory in John singing along – loudly and happily – to "Sweet Caroline."
John's 90th birthday was celebrated with a joyful weekend surrounded by all his children and grandchildren. The days were filled with laughter, conversation, good food, poolside fun, and treasured time together. He enjoyed his favorite German chocolate cake, a nod to his German heritage and a sweet tribute to a remarkable life well lived.
In his later years, John bravely endured Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, far outliving his original prognosis. In his final months, he was able to be with family and at home, enjoying his daily 5:00pm bourbon, celebrate the holidays with family, and take comfort in the view of his backyard – complete with birds, his dog, cats, four cows, and visiting deer. In his final moments, his wife and children were gathered around his bedside as he peacefully drifted away.
While we mourn his loss, we find comfort in remembering John's full, happy, and meaningful life. He will be deeply missed and forever held in our hearts and memories.
Private services will be held by the family. Contributions in John's memory may be made to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma or the Oklahoma Humane Society.