Ortwin ""Ort"" Willard TEWS

With profound sadness, humility, and grace, the family of Ortwin ""Ort"" Tews notes his death on October 11, 2017. He was born in August of 1929 at Hutchinson, Minnesota. He leaves his wife, Margaret; sons, Clendon, Bryan (Brenda), and Jared (Kim); 5 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren (including the first girl born into his family in 75 years). As the second of four children of Edwin and Hattie Horrmann Tews, he was baptized and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. He grew up on the family farm just outside of Hutchinson and attended public schools in Hutchinson where he developed a lifelong passion for sports. Continuing his education at St. Cloud State University in 1947, he lettered in football. Interrupting college in his Junior year, Ort enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1950 and served 4 years as an Air Policeman, stationed mostly at Fairchild Air Force Base at Spokane, Washington. While in the Air Force, Ort injured his shoulder dashing hopes for a sports career. A month before his military discharge, he met Margaret Lee Massie on a blind date. Ort and Margaret were married in September of 1955 in Spokane and they moved to Minnesota where Ort completed college in 1958 majoring in Business Administration/Accounting from St. Cloud State University. Their three sons were born in Minnesota, where the family lived in Minneapolis and Bloomington until they relocated to Colorado in 1970. They first lived in Northglenn, then in 1986, Margaret and Ort moved to Denver. The boys and their families are all located in the north/northeast Denver suburbs. Ort was a career Accountant, retiring as Vice President of Finance and Administration with Vivid Color, a photo finishing firm. Sports of all kinds were enjoyed by Ort, as a player, coach, spectator and fierce competitor in Fantasy Football. He loved horses and voraciously read every issue of The Tombstone Epitaph and Farm and Ranch magazine for years. He enjoyed travel, volunteering, playing golf, pinochle and Mah Jongg. Ort is predeceased by his sister Dorothy and brother Elvin and is survived by his sister Audrey of Walnut Creek, CA. Also surviving and dear to us are numerous extended family members. Parkinson's Disease and Dementia long ago stole Ort's warm smile, then took away his mental capabilities and finally his physical powers. He was a good man, quiet and complex, proud and protective of his family. All of us are better people for having known him; we miss him dearly already. We are particularly grateful to the Veterans Administration for their excellent, always timely services, delivered with utmost respect. The compassionate, professionalism of his VA Primary Care Provider, Debra McMurdo, APN/PC will always be appreciated; she and her team helped us every step of this journey. Safe Journey, Dad, and Welcome Home. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 18, at 10:00 a.m., followed by the Funeral service at 11:00am at the Horan & McConaty Family Chapel at 11150 E. Dartmouth Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80014. Burial with Military Honors will be Wednesday at 2:15pm, Area ‘C’ at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd, Denver. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ort’s name to: The Denver Hospice 501 S. Cherry St. Suite 700 Denver, CO 80246 or to a charity of your choice. Any contribution will be most gratefully received.