Anselmo Leonard (Speedy) Ortiz, 84, passed away on Monday, June 17, 2019. He was born February 22, 1935 to Rufino and Ramona Ortiz (Martinez) of Greeley, Colorado. Leonard had 6 siblings and was raised in Colorado. He later enlisted into the Army on April 1958 and was honorably discharged March 1961.
He met his wife, Ignacia, in 1960, and then they got married in 1961 in Eaton, CO at the Four Square Church. He worked for Greeley Excavation Company in his early years, and later retired from Miller Feedlot in LaSalle.
Leonard and Ignacia moved to Kersey, CO in 1967 where they raised their children. They loved their family very much. When their children grew and started having their own families, Sunday dinners after church was so important to both of them that Leonard continued this tradition after the passing of his beloved wife in 2015. He also continued the annual Christmas tamale-making tradition. He loved to have all of the grandchildren at his home to hear their laughter and watch them run around, jump on the trampoline, climb trees and bang on the piano. He especially loved working in his garden and sharing his harvest with his children and grandchildren. Nobody ever left his home empty handed or with no food in their belly. He was a hard-working, God fearing man who treated everyone with love and respect.
He is survived by his 4 sons Bill, Steven (Kristy), Paul and David (Kristyn) Ortiz, 2 daughters Dina Torres and Ruby Ann (Ken) Presley, and 3 sisters Raquel Hernandez, Rebecca Hernandez and Lucy Losoya, 24 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.
Leonard is preceded in death by his parents, wife, 1 brother, 2 sisters, and 2 grandchildren.
Visitation will be 9am-11am Monday, June 24, 2019 at Journey Christian Church, 4754 W 31st Street, Greeley, Colorado. Service will be held at 11am at that church and on the same day immediately after visitation. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
