Leonidas Keeth Springer

Lee Springer passed away May 21, 2026 in Thornton, CO. He was born February 26, 1925 in California, Missouri. He was raised in WaKeeney, KS by his school teacher mother, Bessie King. His brother, Wendell Caulkin, was fifteen years older and a great influence.

After high school, he joined the Navy in 1942 and served in Guadalcanal as a Navy corpsman. When he returned from Guadalcanal, he met Beverly Tanner in Denver and married her after a 6-week courtship. They were married for 76 years. They moved to Walla Walla, Washington so Lee could finish college. Enlisting in the Air Force after college allowed Lee and Beverly to travel and continue higher degrees. They were stationed in Texas, Ohio, Thailand, and Italy and traveled all over the world. They welcomed two children in Texas and one in Thailand.

When Lee retired, he obtained an Ed.D. in Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado. He taught psychology at the community college level in the Denver area and in Phoenix before retiring to Longmont to hike, photograph, and travel.

His early war experience gave him a lifelong passion for peace. He walked in the Longmont Veterans Parade carrying the poem In Flanders Field to remind others of soldiers sacrifice.

He was preceded in death by his son, John, and is survived by his wife, Beverly Springer, his daughter, Susan Clyne, and son Stephen Springer in addition to 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren and one great great grandson. Services will be at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel in Longmont, CO June 5, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.

Contributions may be made to the OUR Center in Longmont or to the Broomfield Veterans Museum which has his WW2 scrapbooks, memorabilia, and records archived.