James Dell Obituary

SMsgt. James Vincent Dell, 84, died peacefully surrounded by his family.

He was born March 13, 1931 to the late Theodore J. and Anna M. Dell in Chicago, IL, a place dear to his heart. He was Jimmy to his beloved siblings Betty (Tom d.) Hourihan, Ted (Dotty) Dell, and Dorothy (Dewey) Marshall and was Uncle Jimmy to his nieces and nephews. He joined the National Guard as a teen, later joining the United States Air Force where he became an accountant. The Air Force took him to England numerous times, Florida, Ohio, Texas, California, and finally to Colorado, his home. He had other foreign assignments to Thailand, Liberia, and the Panama Canal Zone.

On his first assignment to England he met his wife, and love of his life, Maureen Mary Hawkes, his "Sadie." They married on July 4, 1953 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England, and were married for 57 years before she preceded him in death. To her he was "Dingle." He was Dad or Daddio to his children of whom he was very proud: Suanne Dell, Joanne (Larry) Fisher, Michael Dell, and John (Pamela) Dell

He was smart and had intellectual curiosity. After retiring from the Air Force after more than 26 years of service, he finally got to attend college receiving his Associate degree in accounting. He joined NCR at the advent of the microchip industry and retired after 10 years.

He didn't tell us how to live life, he showed us. He was always a hard worker and throughout his time in the military he often moonlighted at second jobs. He attended mass regularly and volunteered throughout his life for the Knights of Columbus, of which he was a 4th degree; the churches he belonged to, the schools his children attended and in later years for Westside Cares. He loved listening to music and singing along; having a large collection of vinyl records and tapes. He enjoyed working with his hands; and was able to fix most things around the house. He was never happier than when he was splitting wood in his wood yard. He had a great sense of humor, loved his country, and was loyal to his friends. But, his greatest love was his family. His joy of life increased with the birth of his grandchildren, Kyle and Andrea Dell to whom he was Pop. He showed us his amazing will and fortitude with how he handled his chronic illnesses in his later years, always with a smile. He considered himself a lucky and blessed man and could not believe his good fortune. He was loved, and will be missed forever, but the life lessons we all learned from him will live on. God Bless you Dad and give Mum our love.

Services will be held in Colorado Springs at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 11th at Sacred Heart Church, 2030 W. Colorado Blvd. and internment services with full military honors at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area B, in Denver on Friday, July 17th at 1:30 p.m.

Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to Westside Cares at 2808 W. Colorado Avenue, or the Knights of Columbus Counsel 13981 at Sacred Heart Church.