Leroy Earl Tobler

An accomplished civil engineer, entrepreneur and eternal hobbyist, Leroy Earl Tobler (November 5, 1929) passed away December 30, 2024, in Denver, Colorado. Born in Topeka, Kansas to Edith & Earl Tobler, Leroy had just celebrated his 95th birthday.

 Growing up in Kansas, Leroy graduated Highland Park High School in 1948. He played the baritone in the band and according to his yearbook, his classmates fondly remembered him as a “swell and funny” guy. He loved fishing with his dad and was an avid golfer, something he enjoyed his whole life and would play whenever he had the chance. In his teen years he spent several summers working on his Aunt Ina and Uncle Tony’s farm, recently commenting on how he had always wanted to become a farmer. Leroy was passionate about collecting unique stamps and coins. He meticulously studied Value Line and conscientiously tracked his investments in the market. He was an artist, loving oil painting and drawing, a photographer and a skilled carpenter making bedrooms sets, desks, lamps and many carvings using his lathe throughout the years.

 In 1949, Leroy joined the 147th Kansas National Guard Military Police Battalion while he was pursuing a degree at Clark’s Business College. With the start of the Korean War in 1950, his battalion was called to active duty and he later served in the United States Army as a First-Class Sergeant in the 25th Combat “Wolfhound” Infantry Division. Afterwards, he used the G.I. Bill to attend engineering school at the University of Kansas, graduating in 1959. During that time, he met his wife Letha Trumble at church, and they were married in 1955. Their daughter Michelle was born one year and a day later. Upon graduation he became the Assistant City Engineer in Lawrence. He and Letha spent nights and weekends building their first home together. Leroy was immensely proud to be a Jayhawk and remembered specifics about every class he took there.

 In 1964, a professional opportunity arose in Colorado, moving his family to Arvada. Leroy and Letha had honeymooned in Colorado, and he loved spending time in and exploring the mountains. It was in Colorado that their two sons Mark and Mike were added to the family, completing the Tobler family of five.

 As a civil engineer, Leroy loved designing roadways, subdivisions and even golf courses. His favorite saying was that he learned all he knew about CO mountain road design from living in Lawrence, KS. After working for the City of Arvada as the Public Works Director as well as a Senior Civil Engineer for a private firm, he decided he wanted to be his own boss and he started his own company Contra, Ltd in 1982, named in the spirit of being contrarian. He was so proud of his work in Arvada but also Eagle, Vail, Beaver Creek, Castle Pines and even a project in Manzanilla, Mexico.

 Leroy loved to read presidential biographies, novels, as well as political and historical works. In his later years, he enjoyed exercising, learning about history and other cultures, taking part in NCAA March Madness, and keeping up his friendship with a longtime friend with walks and talks at CO Mills mall. He took pride in learning about his and his wife’s family history, creating several books documenting them. Just a couple of months before passing, he travelled to Kansas to see his granddaughter get married and take a road trip to visit the people, places, and things he loved there.

 Leroy leaves behind his daughter Michelle (John) Atkins of Gananoque, Ontario, and his son Mike (Meg) of Denver. He is also survived by his six grandchildren: Aimee, Erin, Brian, Emily, Ally, and Annie as well as 5 great-grandchildren.

 Leroy was pre-deceased by his wife of 65 years Letha, son Mark, and daughter-in-law Marianne (Koppisch) Tobler. Leroy will be interned with his wife at the Rose Meron Cemetery, Oak Hill, Kansas at a future date.