Leo Richard Sanchez

Leo R. Sanchez was born September 21, 1935 in Casper, Wyoming. He passed away March 10, 2013 at Wyoming Medical Center, surrounded by his family.

Services for Leo will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Casper on Thursday, March 14th at 11am. Leo's nephew, Father David Coon, will celebrate the Mass. Following the service, a military burial will be performed at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery in Evansville. Visitation will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home at 710 E. 2nd Street in Casper on Wednesday, March 13th from 5:30pm until 7:00pm, followed by a Rosary at 7:30pm.

Leo was born and raised in Casper, where he attended St. Anthony's School and Natrona County High School. He joined the Marine Corp soon after high school, where he served in Korea. After being discharged from the Marines, he attended Casper College where he received an associate's degree and had the honor of performing as the first Heyoka, the Thunderbird Mascot. He went on to attend Colorado University in Boulder, Colorado, receiving a bachelor's degree in teaching in 1963. After teaching for a couple of years, he started working towards a Master's, earning a degree in American Studies in 1968 from the University of Wyoming.

While attending Colorado University he had the great fortune of meeting his future wife, Mary. Three years later (and after seven proposals), they were married. After teaching in Denver for a year, they moved back to Casper, bought a house and started their family. Leo taught at Dean Morgan Junior High School for 37 years, before retiring in 2001. Throughout this time, he and his students were credited with many community projects, not only around Casper, but all over the state of Wyoming.

Leo believed he was put on this Earth to serve others. He made it his mission to bestow upon them the gifts of giving, loving, caring, and patriotism, all within the context of learning. This mission became a driving force in his teaching, and as such, students either loved him or hated him. As it turned out, and as many will attest, he became one of those teachers you never forget.

In his recent writings, Leo stated his commitment to community by saying, "I believe that God must have had a plan for me and that is why I must work to make my community and my state a better place to live. And I will continue until I die." He demonstrated this throughout his teaching career by getting his students involved in many projects, such as the Sun-Up Ridge Wall, Reflections on WWII, Wyoming Cares POW-MIA and Youth Conservation Corp with the BLM. They also raised money for the first kidney dialysis machine, first handicapped bus and first senior citizen center in Casper. Leo is responsible for the erection of statues and memorials throughout Casper, including lining the road to the Veterans Cemetery in Evansville with trees and monuments. After his retirement from teaching, Leo continued to be actively involved in his community.

He is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Donna Marie Sanchez-Hult, who died of breast cancer in 2011, his mother Ella, father Percy, sisters Clara and Opal, brother Martin and several nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his wife and love of his life for over 49 years, Mary. He is also survived by his two sons Richard (Rick) and wife Heidi of Buffalo, and Mark and wife Trisha of Casper and a son-in-law Paul Hult, also of Casper. Other surviving family members include grandchildren Kelcie, Ryan, Emily, Codi, Tyler, and Lexi, and great-grandchildren Breckyn, Brynlie, and Kaydrie, all of Casper

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Central Wyoming Hospice, 319 S. Wilson, Casper, WY 82601 or True Care Women's Resource Center, 1746 S. Poplar, Casper, WY 82601, in Leo's memory.

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