Leonard Thomas Saltsman

Leonard Saltsman born August 31, 1927 passed away on November 28, 2024. His wife, Mary Lou, preceded his death on August 10, 2021. They were married 74 years and had five children, 10 grandchildren, and enumerable great and great-great-grandchildren. He is survived by Linda Carlson and her children David and Julie; Ann Andis and her children Sunda and Shane; Kelly Thompson and her husband Wayne and Kelly’s children Shawna and Jennifer; Mark Saltsman and his wife Teresa and their children Dan, Tyler, and Nicolle; and Dana Heller and her husband Ron and their children Travis and Eric.

Leonard grew up in Morris Illinois where he lived on a farm with his parents Daniel and Ollie Saltsman. He was a veteran who served in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He met his bride to be in Colorado Springs while stationed at ENT Air Force Base. They were married in Morris Illinois, but eventually moved back to Colorado where they originally met and raised their five children.

Leonard was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting. He taught himself Spanish and German and sought every opportunity to practice with folks of the native tongue. He could play by ear the piano, the fiddle, mandolin, and the guitar and was occasionally known to dance a jig. Being surrounded by five women and a hapless son, Leonard was forced to take up playing golf as a way to “relax”. Eventually, he developed a passion for the game and even shared it with his children and grandchildren. He continued playing golf until he was 95 years old. He was known for his wit, dry sense of humor, and a mischievous smile used to clue in audiences to his sarcastic wit. He has passed on his smile, his cleverness, and his sense of humor to his children who, along with his many friends, will miss sharing the wink and nod of a joke only they are in on. His legacy of laughter is exceeded only by his legacy of faith. Leonard and Mary shared a devout faith in Jesus Christ which they in turn shared with their children and their community. Leonard is survived by enumerable brothers and sisters of faith who look forward to sharing a meal and singing hymns with him again in heaven. Leonard and Mary’s conviction, to stand firm in what one believes, is unmistakable in the lives of their children and their children’s families, many of whom have faced hardships and trials. Troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed (2 Cor. 4:8-9). His goal in his walk with Jesus was as Paul stated, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)