Mr. Leonard G. Urban
Deceased: 2024-12-26
Diocese: DENVER
Seminary Graduation Year: 1957
Leonard G. Urban passed peacefully in his home in Fort Collins on September 26, 2024. Leonard was born in Wallace, Kansas on November 6, 1931. His parents, Rosa Bittel and Adam Urban, moved with their family, to Denver, Colorado in 1934. There, Leonard grew up with his 10 brothers and sisters; Geri, Cora, Romilda, Veronica, Alfred, Elmer, Richard, Virginia, Peter and Katherine. His sister, Katherine said and his siblings acknowledged that Leonard was the culmination of their father and mother, the joy of interacting with family and any group at all, an appreciation of so many encounters of a long life. He was love personified.
Leonard attended Mesa State College for one year, then, returned to Denver to enter St. Thomas Seminary with his brother, Peter, soon earning a Master’s Degree in philosophy. Leonard was then called to study in Rome, Italy, at Gregorian University where, in 1956, he was both ordained and granted his License in Sacred Theology, LST. Later, Leonard earned a second Master’s in psychology at Catholic University in Washington DC.
Leonard’s ministry, teaching, writing and parish work encompassed more than thirty years as a Catholic priest. During that time, he served eleven years in Denver, Colorado, as the Head of Counseling and Guidance at Cathedral High School. He continued his ministry at Colorado State University as a pastor, student counselor and spiritual leader at John XXIII University Center, together with Sister Elizabeth Dyer. In time, Leonard ministered to several parishes in Colorado, including Denver, Longmont Frederick, Mead, Erie, Fort Collins and Greeley. During those years, he was in ministry together with his brother, Father Peter Urban.
In 1990, following his departure from Catholic priest ministry, Leonard became a licensed marriage and family therapist. He continued that work with and for so many people until his passing in 2024. He married Elizabeth Cushman in 1991; together they made their home, working and creating community for thirty-four years in Fort Collins.
Leonard loved life, and he celebrated all the amazing opportunities it offered. He was an avid fly fisherman and great golfer. He loved poetry, really literature of all kinds, as well as music and laughter. He was a writer, a teacher and a beloved spiritual leader to many. He loved learning from others and sharing freely all he learned. His effort was always to serve the poor, the sick, and the lonely. He especially loved his family, considering even those he did not know, as family. He touched many lives with his caring wisdom and gentle soul. He will be remembered for all he taught us and for all his many gifts he openly shared with us. He will be forever missed.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Liz Urban; sister-in-law, Cheryl Workman-Avery (Ron); brother-in-law, Milo Cushman (Linda); step-son, Christopher Roelle (Simone Barrelier); step-daughter, Jenna Krosschell (Rocky), and grandchildren, Hunter and Vince. Also surviving are his brother, Peter Urban and sister, Katherine Day, as well as many nieces and nephews, and dear friends.
A celebration of life will be held on October 26, 2024 at 12:00 noon, with a reception following the service, at Mary of Magdala Ecumenical Catholic Church at Trinity Lutheran, 301 E. Stuart St., Fort Collins.
