Gerard "Jerry" Joseph Brett

Gerard (Jerry) Joseph Brett, 81, died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of June 16, 2025. Jerry was a dedicated husband to Joan, his loving wife of 58 years, and a devoted father to their four children, but his favorite role was being a grandfather to five grandchildren.

Jerry was born in Brooklyn, NY to James and Mary L. Brett on February 29, 1944 and the family moved to Shavertown, PA in 1951. Jerry’s early interest in aviation led him to Villanova University where he served in the NROTC and graduated in 1967 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Shortly thereafter, Jerry reported for Naval flight training in Pensacola, FL and later served two tours in Vietnam, flying the A7E Corsair II in Squadron VA146 based on the U.S.S. American and U.S.S. Constellation. After retiring from the Navy as a Lt. Commander in 1974, Jerry and Joan moved to Memphis, TN to begin his commercial pilot career with a little start-up known as Federal Express as one of the first 100 pilots hired. He had a successful thirty-year career which included opportunities to fly in Europe and the Middle East before retiring in 2004.

When not rebuilding car engines, tree houses or sandboxes for his children, he was known for his adventurous spirit which was evident in his love for traveling, hiking, camping, water skiing, and snow skiing.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Joan, their three children: Michael and his wife Wendy, Kristen, and Stephen and his wife Laura as well as his sister Claire. He was an adoring grandfather to Lauren, Karin, Connor, Cameron, and Chloe.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Mary Lou Moss (sister), and daughter, Karin.

The family would like to thank the Brighton Hospice and Balfour Senior living care teams for their care and support of their father.

To commemorate his remarkable life, a funeral mass will be held at 11am on June 25, 2025 at Our Lady of Peace in Silverthorne, CO followed by the burial service at Valley Brook Cemetery in Breckenridge, CO. A gathering to honor and celebrate Jerry will be held on October 4, 2025 in Denver, CO. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stork-Morley Funerals.