John Clemens Lepsch

John Clemens Lepsch entered this world on July 20th, 1945 to the joy of his parents, Walter and Dorothy Lepsch. John spent much of his youth in the grocery store his parents owned and operated in Rochester, New York. To say John loved baseball would be an understatement. John and his friends played baseball as they frequented Silver Stadium to watch the legends of baseball rise to fame. As John matured, he had two passions in his life: broadcasting and baseball. After graduating from Penfield HighSchool in Rochester, John was able to live his dream of becoming the announcer at Silver Stadium, the home of the Rochester Red Wings. This began John's career in broadcasting, which he was faithful to his entire life. Attending broadcasting school in Milwaukee Wisconsin, John met the love of his life, Diana Kay Lupkes. John and Diana were married in 1967. John followed his passion around the east coast and went on to be a broadcasting teacher, news anchor, weatherman, radio personality, and a baseball announcer. Little did John know that he too would become a legend of baseball in 1981 being the away team announcer for the longest baseball game in history between the Rochester Red Wings and the Pawtucket Red Socks. John's name is in the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of fame and can still be visited to this day.

In 1969, John and Diana welcomed their first child to their family, Michelle Am Lepsch, who they affectionately referred to as “Scooter”. Michelle Lepsch was born in Durham, North Carolina where John Clemens was the announcer for the Durham Bulls baseball team. John and Diana would soon after move back to Rochester New York to be near his mother Dorothy Lepsch. The only thing John was more passionate about than broadcasting and baseball was family. In 1979, the Lepsch family would grow yet again with the birth of Michael John Lepsch, who they affectionately referred to as “Geezer”. John raised his children to love people well and to always have a servant's heart.

In 1986, John made a major life decision and packed up his family to move from Rochester, New York to Tulsa, Oklahoma to work with his sister Sandra Scott (Lepsch) in the apartment real estate industry. John still pursued his passion in broadcasting with the Tulsa Drillers baseball team. Two years later, the Lepsch family moved to Dallas Texas where John shared Marlin Maddoux’s vision for the USA Radio Network growing the station from 100 affiliates to over 14,000 around the world. Living out his passion, John became the co-host of the Christian Talk Show, Point of View for 14 years. During this time John and Diana became intimately involved with Prince of Peace Lutheran Church where John was an elder of the church. John became a pillar of the community and pillar of faith in Jesus Christ. By the year 2000, John built a home studio and had a successful business called “The Clemens Report” where he and his wife Diana continued to interview movers and shakers in the Christian community to help get their message out. Just as he had done at the time of the beginning of his career, John was the announcer for the Frisco Roughriders near his home in Carrollton, Texas.

With his children grown up and out of the house, John continued to be a mentor to his children and to always tell the stories of the Lepsch Legacy, a legacy of faith and compassion for people. John had an infectious smile and a golden voice that put all he met at ease. John's heart would leap for joy in 2005 as he met his first grandchild Dominic, followed by his second grandson, Alexander, just a few months later in 2006. In 2009 and again in 2011 John would experience this joy with his third grandson Benjamin and first granddaughter Lacey. John cherished every moment with his grandchildren as he fully embraced his role as “Papa”.

In 2018, John was diagnosed with late stage Multiple Myeloma cancer. Thanks to answered prayer, John was able to succeed in his battle with cancer for 4 years. The Lord began calling him home to the arms of Jesus in September of 2021, when it was found that the cancer had spread to his pancreas. Given 3-6 months left to live, John had 2 goals: spend his remaining time with his family and to share the love of Jesus Christ. John and his family enjoyed a road trip to say goodbye to his family in Iowa after which John and his family took a trip to his favorite location, Galveston Beach. Sitting close to his wife on the porch of the beachhouse, John was able to see the closest sight to heaven on earth, which is the sunset over the ocean while watching his children and grandchildren play at the beach. Upon returning home, John began to leave this life well lived. John was surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren for “Papa’s special christmas” on December 5th where he was able to tearfully express to his family how much his family meant to him. Four days later he was granted a faithful servant's peaceful passing in his sleep. His legacy will live on forever but more importantly, John lives on forever in heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In lieu of flowers, please prayerfully consider making a donation to the PAN Foundation, which offers a lifeline to individuals with serious health conditions who are facing extraordinary medication and treatment expenses beyond what insurance will cover. Through God’s grace and because of this institute, we truly believe his wife, children and grandchildren were given the blessing of making four additional years of cherished memories.

PAN Foundation: https://donate.panfoundation.org/give/290725/#!/donation/checkout