Bradley Pearson Brubaker

Bradley Pearson Brubaker, 46, beloved husband, doting father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew and friend passed away on Saturday, April 10, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. Brad is survived by his wife of 11 years, Shelley Sullivan Brubaker of Denver, Colorado, son Renicks Ray Brubaker, daughter Liza Lee Brubaker, mother Susan Pearson Brubaker of Memphis, Tennessee, brother David Christopher Brubaker (LaUna) of Memphis, Tennessee, father-in-law Tom Sullivan of Thornton, Colorado, sister-in-law Tonya Coogan (Don) of Broomfield, Colorado, brother-in-law Tod Sullivan (Andrea) of Thornton, Colorado, Aunt Sandra Pearson Farr of Dallas, Texas, cousins Jess Clinton Farr (Kacy) of Austin, Texas, and Laura Farr Leavell (Chris) of Dallas, Texas and eight nieces and nephews, Colin Coogan, Ainsley Coogan, Zoe Coogan, Aiden Sullivan, Mary McDaniel Brubaker, Makayla Sullivan, Pearce Alan Leavell and Donald Alan Leavell. Brad is preceded in death by his father, David Biedler Brubaker and mother-in-law Sue Sullivan.

Brad was born in Memphis, Tennessee on October 3, 1974. He was an alumnus of Christ Methodist Day School, White Station Junior High School, Christian Brothers High School and Rhodes College, all located in Memphis. At each of these schools, Brad built lifelong friendships. It brought him great joy to connect each of these groups of friends to each other over the course of his life. All that know him love him.

As a young boy he spent fun filled days on his grandparents’ farm, Glendale, where family and friends made memories swimming, riding ATVs, exploring the woods, selling Christmas trees, celebrating special occasions and enjoying meals together. He loved camping, fishing and canoeing with his father and brother. Early in life he developed a love of soccer and eventually claimed two Tennessee State Championship rings. He was an avid music fan from an early age, spent countless hours playing Atari, skateboarding and playing driveway basketball games with friends. His love of sports cannot be overstated. Brad’s life was enriched greatly by the 1985 Memphis State Tigers Basketball team, the Memphis Americans professional and club soccer teams, the Tennessee Volunteers Football team and the Denver Broncos.

Brad’s love of the outdoors and sense of adventure only grew after spending high school summers in Colorado. He knew he wanted to live there and vowed to return one day. After graduating from college with a degree in anthropology, Brad and friends hiked from Maine to Georgia on the Appalachian Trail from May to November of 1997. Many on the trail only knew him by his trail name, “Giddy Up”.

After spending five years as a banker in Nashville, Brad packed up and moved to Denver, making good on his vow to return to Colorado. This move ultimately brought him more joy and fulfillment than he ever could have imagined. Both personally and professionally.

Professionally, Brad eventually found his way back into banking. He served as a Vice-President at Berkley Bank where he spent almost ten years doing work he loved with people he loved while building countless friendships along the way. He served as a board member of the Home Builders Foundation for five years.

Brad found the greatest joy of his life in his wife Shelley and their two children, Renicks and Liza. Brad loved vacationing with his and Shelley’s large extended families, hiking in the Colorado Rockies, playing and teaching his children to play soccer, walking his children to school, watching his children learn and enjoy skiing and snowboarding, having Shelley as his partner in all things and being part of his close knit group of neighbors who knew and loved him. Brad and Shelley have lived life with a love and togetherness that shines brightly through their lives, their home, their extended families and their community.

Brad’s friends and family will forever live their lives in celebration of his beautiful memory. Always remembering the “Power of Bru”.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at BRAVE Church in Englewood, Colorado on Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. The family requests that any memorials be made to National Organization for Albinism & Hypopigmentation (NOAH), Global Down Syndrome Foundation or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Brad's service will be livestreamed at the link below

https://control.resi.io/webplayer/video.html?id=b83c10bb-b158-407c-b519-af1e021a6f5e