Leon Corpuz, Jr.

Family & friends mourn the passing of Leon Corpuz, Jr., who passed away on December 4, 2022 at the Medical Center of Aurora, after a brief illness.  Leon was 86 years old.

Leon Corpuz, Jr. was born April 10, 1936, in Denver, Colorado, the eldest son of Leon and Jennie Corpuz.  After a brief residence in Denver, the family moved to Casper, Wyoming where Leon attended area schools and graduated from Natrona County High School in 1954.  Upon graduation, Leon enrolled at Casper College, pursuing a course of study in Petroleum Engineering.  Leon joined the United States Army in 1958, serving as a Petroleum Storage Specialist in the Quartermaster Corps at Fort Lee, Virginia. 

While at Fort Lee, Leon met Anna Sharaeff of Detroit, Michigan, who was working in administration for the Department of the Army.  The two maintained a relationship, even after Leon was honorably discharged in 1960 and began continuing his education at the University of Wyoming.  Leon graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1961 and commenced work at Sinclair Oil Corporation in the same year.  He and Anna were married in 1962, living in Sinclair, Wyoming, and raising a son, David, born in 1966.  The family moved to Rawlins, Wyoming in 1980.  During his career of over 40 years, Leon worked in most phases of the petroleum refining operation, including processing, technical engineering, safety, and handling of all environmental affairs for over 30 years.  Leon retired from Sinclair Oil in 2004.

Leon was an avid collector of coins and antiques.  For many years Leon and Anna operated Pronghorn Coins and Collectibles, traveling across the region to present at antique and coin shows.  Their collection was recognized as one of the premier collections in the region and their skills as appraisers were valued.  Leon was a founding member of the Silver Dollar Coin Club in Rawlins, and was also active in several organizations including the Rawlins Chamber of Commerce and the Carbon County Museum Board.  Leon maintained other interests in arrowhead hunting, Western heritage, metal detecting, hunting and fishing.  Leon was also a caregiver to Anna in her later years, until her passing in 2009.

In 2018, Leon returned to the Denver region to pursue medical care and be closer to family.  He was a resident of Garden Plaza of Aurora, where he enjoyed playing pool and poker, watching the Wyoming Cowboys, Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills as well as visiting with other members of the Garden Plaza community until his recent passing.  Leon was preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister Diane Malsom of Tucson, Arizona, his wife Anna and two infant sons.  Leon is survived by his son David (Maggi) of Denver; brothers Dan and Richard of Brighton, and James (Gloria) of Draper, UT, as well as his sister Suzanne Hutchison (Steve) of Highlands Ranch and several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held in Denver at Olinger Hampden Mortuary on Saturday, December 10 between 4pm-8pm.  Another visitation will be held in Rawlins at Casada Funeral Home (formerly Jacoby Funeral Home) on Thursday, December 15, between 2pm-6pm.  Graveside services will take place at Casada Funeral Home (formerly Jacoby Funeral Home) on Friday, December 16, at 10am.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Carbon County Museum, 904 W. Walnut St., Rawlins, WY 82301 or online at https://www.carboncountymuseum.org/donate