Leo Seeba

Leo George Seeba of Aurora, Colorado died on May 29, 2023. He was 73.

Services will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church at 19099 E. Floyd Ave. in Aurora. A rosary will be held at 10 a.m., with a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. A reception and lunch will follow at the church. Burial will take place on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 12:30pm at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Leo was born on Sept. 14, 1949 on a farm near Grafton, North Dakota, to Cyril George and Anna Gerszewski Seeba. He had four brothers and one sister, and they learned the value of hard work and the importance of helping others.

After graduating from high school in 1969, Leo enlisted in the U.S. Army for two years. Using the G.I. Bill, he attended what was then the North Dakota State Scientific School, earning an electrical degree in 1973 and a degree in electronics in 1974. He was active in several campus organizations, including clubs for veterans and electrical students, skiing, Circle K Kiwanis, Student Activities Board and the cheerleading team, where he was a Wildcat Willie mascot.

He was awarded Outstanding Student of the Year, Student Cabinet Award and was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges.

“I was not a student who stood in the shadows,” Leo told his alumni magazine after he endowed two college scholarships at what is now the North Dakota State College of Science. “I was proud to be a Wildcat!”

Leo started his career at a government radar site in Cavalier, North Dakota, then attended North Dakota State University. In 1977, he moved to Colorado and worked in the electrical construction field. Leo then spent more than 20 years with the Colorado Air National Guard and another 22 years as a civilian supervisor with the State of Colorado Military Affairs Department. He worked in both design construction and maintenance of facilities and airfields throughout the state and the world.

He enjoyed life with great friends, challenging work and rewarding volunteer experiences.

He was an active volunteer in many service organizations, including Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, the Other Side of the Mountain Gang, Special Olympics Colorado, Food Bank of the Rockies, Santa Claus Workshop, the U.S. National Forest Service and several parishes in the Catholic church. Leo was honored with the Hal O’Leary Award for volunteerism, the JC Penney Golden Rule Award, and the State of Colorado Star Award. He also was honored by President George Bush as the 586th Point of Light in the U.S.

Leo was Outstanding Volunteer of the Year in 1990 for Special Olympics Colorado and was enshrined in the Special Olympics Colorado Hall of Fame on 04/26/1991.

“Leo was a bright light in our lives,” remembers his siblings. “He would do anything for his family, but also for so many others in need.” He also is remembered for his ornery sense of humor and large parties for his retirement and other major events.

He was preceded in death by his father, Cyril. He is survived by his mother, Anna; brothers Dan, Rodney, Robert and Loren; sister Darlene, and several nieces and nephews.

Donations in his memory can be made Special Olympics Colorado at https://specialolympicsco.org