Patty R Hardzog

Patty Richards Hardzog, 89, passed away on August 12, 2023, at her home in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Patty was born on March 21, 1934, to Wayne and Elizabeth (Small) Richards. She was preceded in death by her husband Randall Hardzog, daughter Sherrie Hardzog Glenn, son John Leonard and son-in-law Kevin Holloway. She is survived by her children Mary Leonard Gilleland and husband Roy, Brenda Leonard Holloway, Christine Leonard, Julie Leonard Arp and husband Bryan, Nancy Hardzog Stark and husband Todd, and David Hardzog and wife Kylle. Her surviving grandchildren include Mary’s children Sean Gilleland, Brandon Gilleland, Bethany Gilleland Mathems, and Seneca Geron; John’s children Joshua Leonard, Jennifer Leonard, and Zachary Lussman; Sherrie’s children Lacey Glenn Boodleman and Jessica Glenn; David’s children Eric Hardzog, Chad Hardzog, Echo Hardzog Contreras, and Heidi Hardzog Sifford; Brenda’s children Bailey Holloway and Kirby Holloway; Nancy’s daughter Alecia Stark Duncan; Julie’s daughters Allison Arp and Alexis Arp. She also has many precious great-grandchildren, such an abundance of family!

Patty was born in Nashville, Illinois and lived there with her parents, grandparents, and extended family nearby until the age of 13. She often recounted her memories of walking the streets of Nashville in her childhood, visiting her grandfather’s popcorn stand and her grandparent’s restaurant, her uncle’s barber shop and another uncle’s gas station, spending time in her grandma’s garden and living in the apartment above the restaurant. Elizabeth later married Roscoe Helms, their lives forever changed and enriched by a generous and kind stepfather. Patty and her mother joined Roscoe as he served in the Army in Bavaria, Germany in 1947. At the age of 13, she was charmed and entranced with Germany and began a lifelong love of Germany and travel. She graduated from high school in Long Beach, California and went to nursing school in St. Louis, Missouri.

She became a certified Nurse Practitioner for Women’s Reproductive Health in 1975 and worked for WY Family Planning, CO Planned Parenthood, and as a civilian for the US ARMY in this role. Patty’s nursing career included positions as ward nurse, surgical nurse, labor and delivery nurse, elder care nurse, and school nurse.

Just out of nursing school, Patty married Robert Joseph Leonard on September 3, 1955.  Patty loved her extended Leonard family and sisters-in-law, and they had lifelong friendships. They lived for a short time in Omaha, Nebraska where they welcomed Mary and John. They moved to Gillette, Wyoming in 1958 and added Brenda, Christine, and Julie to the family. The family moved to Torrington, Wyoming in 1970 where Patty was an elementary school nurse.

In 1974 Patty married Randy Hardzog and the combined family moved to Rawlins, Wyoming. She learned to be a cowgirl, and enjoyed many years of roping events, kids and grandkids activities, going dancing, and beloved camping trips and trail rides with her family and friends in Wyoming.

Patty and Randy then spent many years on the Front Range of Colorado as their family grew and spread and added joy and activity to their lives. As they neared retirement, they were able to achieve a lifelong goal of returning to live in Europe as her career led her to Heidelberg, Germany as a civilian nurse for the US Army. From 1993 to 1997, they lived their dream of working and living abroad and welcomed many of their family and friends to join in their adventures and travel. She wrote beautiful letters to her mother and children from Germany describing their travels and the sights, sounds, and tastes of their European adventure. Patty and Randy returned to their home in Cheyenne and enjoyed many visits with their dear German friends, retirement hobbies, travel, and family, until Randy passed in 2006. Patty continued her hobbies and pursuits and enjoyed more travel, welcomed great-grandchildren, and was at home with family until the end of her life.

Patty was involved in many singing and card groups over the years, enjoyed pinochle, poker, and canasta games, and loved her Red Hat events. Her library list is many pages long, as an avid reader and mystery lover. She was a pro at Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuit and had a deep knowledge of world history, geography, and religion. She loved wildlife, horses, and dogs – from her first dog as child, Midgie, to her last Westie, Molly, and golden retrievers Kazzie, Ranger, and Gracie.  She was a woman of determination and grit, who believed you could have what you wanted in this life and made it happen in her own. She was known for her beautiful blue eyes, glitzy jewelry, class, and sense of style.

Patty’s passion for travel led her to visit 39 countries and most of the United States. She slept under a world map above her bed. She went ocean cruising, river cruising, zip lining, adventuring, and fine dining in her retirement years and was sometimes hard to keep up with! She loved UW football games, watching PBS, all things British, telling jokes and stories, diet coke, cookies, movies, reading, playing games, singing, line dancing, crafting, decorating, shopping, game shows, garage sales, mountains, castles, festivals, parades, campfires, horseback rides, fireworks, and time spent by the backyard pond. She loved her family deeply and held her friends dear.

We thank you all for your love of Patty, your support of our family and your calls, emails, and prayers.