Bret Joseph 'Joe' Wilson

Our beloved Bret Joseph "Joe" Wilson, 48, went to his eternal reward on May 19, 2022, following a tragic accident at his home in Cortez, CO. Joe was born on June 26, 1973, after surprising his parents, Richard and Elizabeth Michel Wilson with an unplanned home birth. From then on, he was pretty unconventional in how he did things. He showed great mechanical promise from a young age, taking apart anything he could to see how it worked. At age ten, his family moved to the country, where he spent many hours with his dad and brothers, working on vehicles and machinery in their shop.
By age 11 he had a job in a local equipment rental business, repairing small engines. In later years he used his talents generously, assisting friends and family, and often total strangers, with vehicle repair. He graduated from Frederick High School in 1992, and AIMS Community College Welding Program, on the dean's list, in 1994. He worked a vending route for 3 years, then went to work at Fransen Pittman Construction for over a decade. First as a journeyman carpenter, and then a foreman and superintendent.
Joe married Elizabeth "Liz" Buchholz on May 27, 2006, at St. Isidore Traditional Catholic Church in Watkins, CO. In 2013 they and their six children moved to Cortez, CO, where they were blessed by three more children. Joe began to work at FCI Constructors, Inc. in 2014 where he worked as a superintendent until his death.
Joe is survived by his wife, Liz; nine children, Josephine, Mathew, Bernadette, Richard, Margaret, Dominic, Gerald, Patrick, and John; his mother, Elizabeth, of Watkins and Cortez; his paternal grandmother, Neva Wilson of Aurora; his siblings, Amy Gilmor (Michael), Megan Dowd (Michael), Andrew Wilson (Sarah), Thomas Wilson, and Zachary Wilson (Elizabeth); and a huge and loving family of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and countless dear friends and co-workers who have become family. Joe was preceded in death by his father, Richard Wilson; his paternal grandfather, Leland Wilson; and his maternal grandparents.
He will be remembered for his steady, dependable and fun-loving nature, the way he shared his talents, his teasing, creative nicknames, and original wit. His other strengths included an innovative ability to see the big picture and a thoughtful problem-solving perspective. He loved giving generous surprises, and willingly embraced the challenges he faced every day. Most of all he will be remembered for his devotion to and love for his family, and his Faith.