APRIL 18, 1954 – APRIL 12, 2021
On April 12, 2021, the Leedy house lost a well-loved cowboy, father to Jordan, husband of 44 years to Eve and a great and devoted " Pa." Kevin Robert Leedy, born in Kansas City MO, in 1954 was 66.
After his father Robert was killed in a car accident, Kevin spent his early years on a ranch in Roggen, Colorado, but lived most of his life in the Hygiene and Longmont area. Kevin made his living as a welder. He was a welder for CU Bolder and ran his own welding shop, The Corner Blacksmith, in Hygiene with his life-long friend "Skip" Monroe. But he was also a real cowboy, starting as a child in Roggen and later running cattle for his grandfather in the "high-country" above Rifle, CO, as well as tending horses and cattle for his stepfather Bill. Kevin spent nights alone in the woods and days alone in the saddle. He was a roper with many buckles to show for his skills. His life was the stuff of the stories he told.
Kevin was a legendary story-teller surprising many people when they found out that some of his most outlandish stories were true, as confirmed by astonished bystanders. But Kevin could also turn the most mundane experience into a captivating and hilarious anecdote. He never met a human nor an animal that he didn't want to help. He was forced to leave CU in 1995 when he was diagnosed with a blood disorder, hemochromatosis, which was eventually the root cause of his death. For nearly all of the following 25 years, Kevin managed to keep busy building thing, fixed things, helping people fix things and being Pa. When he could no longer ride horses, he switched to tractors, riding, refurbishing and generally just enjoying the enormous tools used to work on them. He was proceeded in death by his brother Jimmy Bratzler, his step-father Bill Bratzler and his mother Marion "Rusty" McVay Bratzler. Kevin is survived by his beloved wife Eve, son Jordan, daughter-in law Kelly and grandsons Mason and Cooper, and his sisters Linda and Teresa.
He is also survived by his beloved surrogate family, the Wades of Kansas City, MO and Emporia, Kansas. The family wishes to thank the unparalleled nursing and care of Elizabeth P. and the amazing Dr. Juneau and nurse Erica at Good Samaritan hospital. In lieu of flowers please donate to your local hospice. Kevin's cremation took place at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. There will be a celebration of life later in the spring.
