Eldon Zwicker, a 60-year resident of Southwest Colorado and a lifelong rancher, died Sunday in his McElmo Canyon home at the age of 87.

Zwicker was immortalized in a video, "Zwicker: An American Cowboy," created by David Bowyer and still sold in area outlets. The video focuses on Zwicker’s life as a cowboy, his family, and their views on the decline of ranching as a way of life.

Zwicker was born June 26, 1913, to Emil and Matilda (Unterkeker) Zwicker, both ranchers, in Sherrard, Ill. He came to Southwest Colorado around 1936, according to his wife, Doreen, whom he married on Jan. 26, 1986.

After settling in McElmo Canyon, he spent the rest of his life cattle-ranching, except for the last two years, when poor health prevented him from horseback-riding any longer.

"I’ve been riding with him about 42 years, moving the cows," recalled Audrey Allmon, another McElmo Canyon resident and a longtime family friend. "He was one of the most completely honest people I’ve ever known. Everybody liked him.

"When he got older, he shrank (in height). Somebody said to me once, ‘Who’s that little man over there?’ and I said, ‘To me he’s 10 feet tall, because that’s the kind of man he is.’"

Zwicker loved Southwest Colorado and Montezuma County, Doreen Zwicker said.

"He sure did — especially this canyon," she said.

Zwicker is survived by his sons, Sheldon, Calvin and Sherman, all of whom followed in his steps and became ranchers in Montezuma County, and their families.

He is also survived by his wife, a step-daughter, Karen Kingery, and her husband, Roy; and a step-son, Kent Fitzgerald, and his wife, Jeannie. He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Lila M. Zwicker, who died in 1984.