Delbert Aaron McNew of Greeley, Colorado passed away on March 18, 2015 at the North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley. His death was the result of sepsis. He was 91 years old.

Del was recently preceded in death by his wife of seventy years, Violet E. McNew. He leaves a son, Terry (Shirley) McNew of Aiken, South Carolina; and a daughter, Debbi Keese (Paul SoRelle) of Eaton, Colorado. Del has four grandchildren, Ryan McNew and Robyn (Mark) Napier of Aiken, South Carolina; Tylar (Jenette) Keese of Brighton, Colorado, and Troy Keese (Stefanie Tilton) of Denver, Colorado. He was blessed with five great grandchildren. They are Nicholas McNew, and Jaden and Logan Mae Napier of Aiken, South Carolina; and Brianna and Addison Keese of Brighton, Colorado.

Del was born in Lemmon, South Dakota, the only child of Virgil and Violet (Hollibaugh) McNew. He attended primary and secondary school in Lemmon, South Dakota, and briefly attended South Dakota State University, leaving school to enlist in the Army during World War II.

Del was assigned to the 413th AFA Bn., 20th Armored Division where he served as Fire Direction Control Technician. His unit saw action in France and Germany, and was among the first to enter the Dachau concentration camp at the end of the war in Europe.

On October 9, 1944 Vi and Del were married. Following Del’s discharge from the Army after WWII, they made their home in Lemmon, where Del began working for the U.S. Post Office. In 1963 the family relocated to Boulder, Colorado, where Del would complete thirty years with the Post Office. In 1983 Del took an early retirement to pursue his hobbies full time.

He became an avid bicyclist, regularly taking trips around Colorado, and occasionally an extended trip such as riding from the Central to Northern Coast of California. During the colder months of the year, he began to develop his talent as a wood worker and carver. His pieces were regularly displayed in shows and museums. His work, Citadel, placed first in its category at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.

As health issues began to limit Del’s bicycling, he took up photography. The hobby started with general nature subjects, and then grew to focus on birds in their natural environment. Del purchased a small camper to pull behind his pickup truck and proceeded to travel over the western United States taking pictures of birds. In 1991 Del partnered with Betty R. Seacrest and published Rocky Mountain Birds: Easy Identification, and in 1998 published Rocky Mountain Bird Postcards. One of his favorite challenges was to photograph hummingbirds in flight, and he succeeded in having one of his photographs published in Birder’s World.

Del and Vi relocated from Boulder to Greeley, Colorado in 2000.

Del’s urn was buried at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver.