Timothy Carle Liebert

Timothy Carle Liebert, age 74, passed away on July 18, 2026, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, due to complications from a congenital heart condition.

Tim was born November 23, 1951, in Coffeyville, Kansas, the second of five children born to Thomas Richard "Dick" Liebert and Olivia Marea Liebert (Bigelow) of Coffeyville. He attended Holy Name Elementary School and Field Kindley High School, both in Coffeyville, graduating a year early. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Kansas and a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

In July of 1972, Tim married his college sweetheart, Mabel "Peg" Dunbar. Together they raised three children, Aaron, Dirk, and Kristen, living in several states as the family followed Tim's career opportunities. As a chemical engineer, Tim designed and managed chemical production plants for Phillips Petroleum, Pritchard (later Black & Veatch), and Procter & Gamble, to name a few.

The family eventually settled in Overland Park, Kansas, where their careers took a serendipitous turn. In 1988, Tim and Peg began a small mail-order catalog of Kansas-themed apparel and gifts. Orders were packed in the family basement until it grew into Kansas Sampler, a chain of stores across the Kansas City metro area beloved by Jayhawks, Wildcats, Chiefs and Royals fans alike. Tim brought an engineer's discipline to the operation as it grew from a kitchen-table idea into a thriving family business, with his three children operating the company in different capacities over the years. In the late 2000s, the company expanded beyond Kansas and Missouri under a new name: Rally House.

Tim remained on as CFO until 2020 and continued on as a board member until his final days. In 2016, Tim and Peg ended their marriage, but they remained close friends and business partners. Today, Rally House operates more than 300 stores across the country and in October 2025, Tim and Peg cut the ribbon together on Rally House's new corporate headquarters building in Lenexa, Kansas — a lasting testament to what the Liebert family built together, one order at a time.

Over the course of his life, Tim was involved in many organizations related to the arts and sciences. Tim's philanthropy in these areas was just getting started after his formal retirement from day-to-day operation at Rally House. He had big dreams. While unfinished, his family hopes to continue his legacy. His most prized venture was a program that he sponsored at Washburn University called the Great TEXTS interdisciplinary program. He strongly believed that everyone, no matter their profession or career objective, should receive a well-rounded education in humanities and liberal arts.

Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Dick and Olivia Liebert. He is survived by his children, Aaron, Dirk, and Kristen; his grandchildren, Alexis, Max, Bryce, Maya, and Gavin (La Rue); and his siblings, Tom, Marea (Dotz), Sarah (Lammers), and Dan. For the last two years of his life, Tim was in a loving relationship with Robin LaFollette of Kansas City, Missouri. With their shared love of travel, they recently completed a six-week trip across three continents.

In honor of his environmentalism and Jayhawk roots, Tim will receive a natural burial at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, Kansas. His celebration of life will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the Kansas City Ballet's Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity, 500 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Washburn University's Great TEXTS interdisciplinary program, the Kansas City Ballet, or the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City.