Delmer L. Brown

Delmer Lee Brown passed away on December 28th at the age of 93. After months of failing health, he died peacefully with family by his side at Poudre Valley Hospital in Ft. Collins, Colorado. We celebrate a life well lived.

Del was born to Mark and Lora (Hubbard) Brown on May 9, 1929 on the family farm in Mitchell, Nebraska. Del attended Scottsbluff H.S then found his way to Ft Collins and graduated from Colorado A&M in 1952 with a degree in Forest Management. Shortly after graduation he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. Honorably discharged afterward he moved to Montrose, Colorado to work as a Colorado District Forester. It was here that he met Colleen K. Walleser, were married in June of 1958 and spent the next 60 years together. Del and Colleen moved to Ft. Collins in 1962 where they raised their family and Del continued his 30 year career with the Colorado State Forest Service. After retiring, Del joined the Peace Corps with Colleen where they spent four years in Ecuador working with ranchers to manage the forests and natural resources on their lands. After returning from Ecuador Del went on to volunteer for 20 years with the U.S. Forest Service. Del was an accomplished woodworker and during his volunteer service he crafted dozens of items for Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests Canyon Lakes Ranger District. Many of these signs, kiosks and benches still grace numerous trailheads and pullouts all along the Poudre Canyon Northwest of Ft. Collins. Del had a love of woodworking and the outdoors and shared this love with all.

Del was preceded in death by his parents, wife Colleen and brother Harlan Brown. He is survived by sister Ellen (Alvin) Svoboda of Pender Nebraska. 3 daughters, Lynn Sullens, Kathy Brown (Pat Bower), and Lori Johnson (Jim), 2 grandsons Josh and Kevin Johnson and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday April 27th at Saint John 23rd Catholic Church 1220 University Ave. Fort Collins at 10am. Internment will be at 1:15pm at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area C, on Friday April 28th. Donations may be made in Del's memory to Toys for Tots. Mailed to: Larimer County Toys for Tots c/o Deborah Simer 9605 Paden Ave Carr, CO 80612.