Leonard Joseph Fuchtman

Leonard Joseph Fuchtman

February 11, 1927 – April 21, 2020

Leonard Fuchtman, 93, passed away  peacefully of natural causes on April 21, 2020 in Denver.  He was born on a farm near Dodge, Nebraska, to Henry Fuchtman and Minnie Rebhausen Fuchtman, the only son amidst four sisters.  He graduated from Dodge High School in 1944 and worked with his father on the farm, where he developed a lifelong love of tractors, particularly Oliver and John Deere. 

He joined the Army in 1950 and was stationed at Camp Carson in Colorado Springs.  As a trumpet player, he qualified for the 179th Army Band, but he also learned to play the upright bass, which he played in dance bands throughout his life.  While in the Army, he met Helen Poole in Englewood, Colorado.  They married in 1953 and moved to the Nebraska farm where they began their family.  

In 1959, Leonard moved his family to Leadville, Colorado where he began work at Climax Molybdenum Mine.  Living in Leadville, he enjoyed fishing, Jeeping, and working on cars.  He did not enjoy shoveling snow.  One of his proudest accomplishments was flying solo in a Cessna 172.  He led several dance bands and served as an officer for the Musicians’ Union in the Aspen-Vail region.  In 1982 he retired from Climax and in 1984 moved with Helen to Littleton, Colorado.  She passed away shortly after.

In 1986 he married Agnes Dreiling in Englewood.  They enjoyed taking cruises, especially Alaska cruises, and traveling to visit family.  He continued to play trumpet in several bands in the Denver area.  One of his great joys was being a part of Toys for God’s Kids, making wooden cars to be sent to children around the world.  Always looking for ways to help other people, Leonard went to local nursing homes and invited residents to join in making cars with him.  More than anything, Leonard liked spending time with friends and enjoyed drinking coffee with his morning buddies, particularly at the former Starbucks at Floyd and Broadway in Englewood.

Leonard was preceded in death by his first wife Helen, his stepson David Dreiling, and his granddaughter Lindsey Dreiling.  He is survived by his wife Agnes, of Denver, his children Thomas Fuchtman (Janice) of Phoenix, Arizona; Cathleen Palumbo of Taos, New Mexico; Tim Fuchtman (Susan) of Chicago; Lynne Denman, of Lakewood, Colorado; and Mary Ellen Friedman (Randy) of Boulder, Colorado; his stepchildren Terre Lidstone (Tim) of Denver; Mary Yaple (Rollo) of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Rick Dreiling (Jolene) of Parker, Colorado;  Ron Dreiling (Liz) of Parker, Colorado; and Jay Dreiling of Denver.  He also leaves twelve grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

If you would like to make a donation in Leonard’s memory, please choose your favorite charity or consider Toys For God’s Kids, http://www.toysforgodskids.org  3531 S. Logan St. D-154, Englewood, CO 80113