Richard Charles Penzenstadler

Dear friends, family, and friends who are family,

It is with a heavy heart that we share news of the passing of Richard “Rick” Penzenstadler on Monday, October 13, 2025, at home in Centennial, Colorado, with his family by his side. Rick was 61 years old.

Although he was a long-time resident of Colorado, in his heart and very soul, Rick was always a Badger/Cheesehead. Born in Oshkosh, WI, to Chuck and Pat Penzenstadler on January 21, 1964, Rick was not an only child for long, for his sisters Kristine and Kathy were not far behind. The Penzenstadlers enjoyed a typical Midwestern life centered on faith, kindness, hard work, adventure, the outdoors, bratwurst, cheesy potatoes, and abundant laughter.

After attending 1st-8th grade at St. Vincents and 9th-12th at Lourdes Academy in Oshkosh, Rick decided to expand his academic endeavors and social adventures by attending the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire where he would meet many of the friends he would have for his lifetime.

Joining the UW Eau Claire pilgrimage to Colorado, Rick and “Freddy” (his 1972 Chevrolet Impala) arrived in Denver where his tight-knit community of friends enjoyed softball, bowling, hiking, camping, golfing, poker, football, and an occasional festivity or two on the weekends. To fund these endeavors, Rick took a job at Standard and Poors, where he remained for more than thirty years as a “computer guy” until his retirement in May of 2021.

It was via their conjoined friend groups that Rick met the love of his life, Laurie Lesmeister. They married on June 26, 1999, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Centennial and decided, thankfully, NOT to hyphenate their last names. Four years later, Rick and Laurie welcomed daughter Rachel in 2003 and son Danny in 2006, and Rick’s greatest passion and impact began as a loving husband and devoted father. On his watch, the Penzenstadler children would be encouraged to see, do, and learn as much as possible. His greatest joy was watching his children grow and thrive. Rick spent countless hours in rinks, on fields, soccer pitches, courts, and golf courses, proudly watching them compete, or witnessing as Rachel and Danny received academic awards, scholarships, and accolades.

During their 26-year marriage, Rick and Laurie enjoyed traveling near and far with family and friends. Trips to the mountains for hiking, snowshoeing, and bluegrass music were common, as well as more far-flung adventures in China, Italy, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, and the British Isles. Rick also enjoyed listening to music, biking, watching football (especially his beloved Packers), being the family grillmaster and summer nights on the patio or around a campfire with friends.

After his diagnosis with Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA) in 2020, Rick continued to travel, visiting family/friends in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Hawaii, until he was no longer able to due to his increased paralysis. Although NBIA compromised his mobility and ability to communicate clearly, his intellect, attention to detail, competitiveness, and sense of humor remained intact. Near the end of his life’s journey, Rick chose to be at home, surrounded by his legacies of an unshakeable marriage, his bright and beautiful children, a secure foundation for the family’s future, and a circle of devoted friends. He will be greatly missed.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Chuck and Pat Penzenstadler; sister Mary Rose Penzenstadler and father-in-law Dan (Ann) Lesmeister. Rick is lovingly remembered by his devoted wife, Laurie Penzenstadler; daughter Rachel Penzenstadler and son Danny Penzenstadler; sisters Kristine (John) Penzenstadler Kubasta and Kathy (Sam) Penzenstadler Ford; sister-in-law Leann (Tom) Hughes, brother-in-law David (Lynn Sheree) Lesmeister, brother-in-law Mark (Gloria) Lesmeister, brother-in-law Kevin Lesmeister and 13 nieces and nephews, as well as the family’s faithful companion and lap-nestler, Ollie.

A Celebration of Life is planned for late December.

Those wishing to learn more about NBIA and to support research into this devastating disease are encouraged to donate to the NBIA Disorders Association by clicking on the link below.