Todd Schleibaum

John Todd Schleibaum had his final take-off in Newark, Delaware on July 14th, 2021 at 10:36PM (2:36 Zulu). Todd’s health rapidly decreased after a severe tooth infection that led to swelling of the brain and ultimately, his passing. He was observed during his illness by his wife and family until his passing.

Todd was born on November 28th, 1979, in Seymour, Indiana, to John “Rick” Richard andPeggy Lou (Spray) Schleibaum.

Todd graduated from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, and pursued his dream of flying aircraft, first flying for Frankfort flight services followed by Anderson Flight Service, Anderson, Indiana. Todd then moved on to Key Lime Air, Denver, Colorado, where his skill, experience and insight led to his promotion to director of operations for the air service. In September of 2011 Todd moved to PSA Airline flying Bombardier CRJ 200, 700, and 900’s rising to the position of Check Pilot, where he oversaw and advised on junior pilots’ professionalism, safety protocol and qualification. In 2018 Todd began flying 737s and eventually International flights for American Airlines, where he was a pilot up until tragedy struck.

In his 41 years Todd had piloted aircraft for well over a year in flight time and was a pilot for 65% of his overall life; he soloed a Cessna 150 on his 16th birthday and never looked down. Todd reveled in flying with friends and family. Todd’s piloting wasn’t only a professional pursuit. Todd flew to the Sikeston, Missouri icon, Lambert’s Cafe, multiple times with all his family. He flew his loved ones to Niagara Falls. He flew his grandmother to Tennessee and Michigan to see relatives. Todd was a humble air-chauffeur taking his younger brother Curt on many adventures from dates, to picking up animals, to just riding along. Todd flew basketball officials in the MAC conference through tough winter weather and flew right-seat for NASCAR racer Tony Stewart.
He made sure Shelby Howard’s pit crew made it to the Acra races; he piloted chartered flights for car seat covers; sometimes he made trips for a single humongous bolt and nut; organs for transplant recipients; he sometimes faced daring Rocky Mountain weather for next-day air-freight into towns that depended on heroic pilots like him for all the critical things people might need within a day.

Todd to others, as a pilot, was impressive enough; It wasn’t enough for Todd. Outside of flying a plane, Todd mastered scuba diving in the Caribbean islands; he hiked and caught trout in the Rockies; if he found a card game he was interested in, he mastered it; he played golf and bowled and did trap-shooting. He paintballed. He raised several exotic animals; He sorted and found silver coins mixed with the dull ones people ignored, even found them in the dirt with a metal-detector. He climbed trails in the Rockies with his friends in his Jeep. He hunted pheasant with Zeke, the Britney Spaniel he raised and trained from a pup in Colorado. Todd lived his life fully. He was uniquely interested in everything the world had to offer and didn’t hesitate to dive in completely until the next adventure revealed itself.

Todd is survived by his wife Chelsea Szczerba-Schleibaum, and 3 stepchildren Christopher, Cameron, and Carter. He is also survived by his mother and father Rick and Peggy Schleibaum. Other survivors are his brother Curt Schleibaum and his wife Summer, their children, Todd’s niece Madi and his nephew Maxx, as well as Todd’s sister Amy Merideth and his brother-in-law, Joshua Merideth.

In keeping with Todd’s wishes no funeral will be held, but a celebration of Todd’s life will be held at a later date.

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