Michael & Shirley Zubowicz

Shirley E. Zubowicz, of Delta, CO, passed away on October 23, 2025 at HopeWest Hospice in Grand Junction. She was 86 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Michael J. Zubowicz, on May 2, 2025. He was 78 years old.

Shirley was born in Lewes, DE to F. Otto and Dorothy M. (White) Vogl. She grew up there and graduated from Lewes High School. Michael was born in Hempstead, New York to Joseph and Naomi (Ash) Zubowicz and grew up in the suburbs of Wilmington, DE. He graduated from Christiana High School outside Newark, DE. Later, Shirley met Mike in Lewes, and they were married in 1974.

Mike and Shirley lived for many years in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where he was Captain of a private fishing yacht, and she was a dispatcher for the Ft. Lauderdale Police Dept. It was through Mike’s job that they were able to travel to many ports and islands all around the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

The couple eventually made the City of Delta their home in 1995, and managed a trailer park north of town for a number of years. Shirley then worked for Russell Stover in Montrose, while Mike held positions with the County and City, first in mosquito control, and then in the parks and recreation department.

Shirley was an animal lover, amateur naturalist, and wildlife conservationist. When not working, she could usually be found tending her garden, where cultivating flowers of all types was her passion. She also enjoyed oil painting, needlework, hiking, and travelling.

Mike was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, boating, and hunting. During the colder months he pursued his hobbies of taxidermy, wood carving, and building detailed models of sailing ships.

Shirley was preceded in death by her two brothers, Fred and David. Mike’s only sister, Pam, passed away less than a month after he did.

Shirley is survived by her sisters, Karen and Claudia, and a niece and three nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Shirley’s name to: Region 10 – Area Agency on Aging, 145 S. Cascade Ave., Montrose, CO 81401, or in Mike’s name to Ducks Unlimited at www.ducks.org.