Gary Harold Thornam

Gary Harold Thornam, 75, from Thornton, Colorado, passed away on July 8, 2025. He bravely fought a 2 year long battle with Leukemia.

Gary was born on January 4, 1950 in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Harold Thornam and Jeanette(Karstaedt) Thornam. He graduated from Harry A. Burke High School in 1967 with honors, then went on to college at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He earned his degree in Construction Sciences. He met and fell in love with his wife, Susan Leibsly, in Denver, Colorado and they were married on September, 11, 2004 in Grand Lake, Colorado. They were deeply in love and devoted to one another until the end.

Gary’s entire career was in the construction business. He was an engineer or project manager on some large projects across the country including concourse A and the pedestrian bridge at Denver International Airport, lodgings at Keystone Ski Resort in Colorado, office buildings at Denver West, hospitals in Oxnard, Ca. and San Francisco, Ca. to name a few. He retired from Haselden Construction Company as V.P. of Marketing in 2016.

Gary was a motorcycle enthusiast and rode across the country with Susan and his brother Ron and other friends. He enjoyed fishing with his son, Joe and daughter, Kayley. He doted over his grandson, Luke. He restored and put on demonstrations of antique farm equipment with his family. He was a part time beekeeper. He loved to travel and sightsee across the U.S. and Europe. He loved Cornhusker football and went to many games in Memorial Stadium. He was a renaissance man, extremely proficient as a carpenter, cabinet maker, electrician, mechanic, plumber, landscaper, gardener, gun smith, and arborist. He was a lifelong learner, music lover and avid reader. He developed skills in a wide range of hobbies such as boating, distilling and brewing , camping and hunting to name a few. Gary loved his family with fierce loyalty and commitment. His favorite times were family gatherings.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Susan Leibsly, daughter Kayley Thornam(Dion Wild), son Joseph (Megan) Thornam, grandson Luke Thornam, brother Ronald (Christine)Thornam, aunt Leone (Dickie) Zill, stepdaughters Nicole (Brett) Manchester, Dana (Todd) Strich, brother in law Frank (Judy) Leibsly, sisters in law Patty Awe(John Griffith), Liz (Keith) Bartlett and Mary (Patrick) Webb, and many cousins and friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his father, Harold Thornam and mother, Jeanette (Karstaedt) Thornam.

Gary’s cremains will rest at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held there on July 31st at 2:00pm.

Memorial donations in Gary’s name can be made to Pollyea Leukemia Research, University of Colorado

Foundation. 13001 E. 17th Pl. Mail stop A065, Aurora, Colorado, 80045.

Flower Arrangements can be sent to Susan Leibsly at 15398 Roslyn Street, Thornton, CO 80602