Richard Henry Bredt

Richard Henry Bredt

February 4, 1945 – December 14, 2025

Richard was born in Detroit, MI., the second son of Helen Dorthea and Howard Alfred Bredt. Along with their springer spaniels, the family spent many weekends at Half Moon Lake outside of Ann Arbor, MI enjoying fishing, boating and lake life. After graduating from Southeastern High School, Rich headed to Ann Arbor to begin his studies at the University of Michigan. He graduated U of M with a degree in Foresty and minor in Botany.

After graduation he set out on a cross-county trip to California where he connected with his brother Thomas Howard and sister-in-law Polly Walker Bredt. After about a year working in and driving around California on his motorcycle, Rich was drafted into the US Army.

Before his deployment began, Rich returned to Ann Arbor where he met Linda Schwary a Junior in Graphic Design at U of M. Rich was deployed to Bamberg, Germany where he and Linda married, May 22, 1970.

After being discharged from the Army, Rich and Linda set off from Ann Arbor to head west to find their forever home. Once they reached Colorado, they knew they found it. In 1973, they welcomed a son, Stephen Andrew and in 1978 a daughter, Jennifer Adele.

Rich was City Aborist, then became Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Wheat Ridge.Throughout Rich’s life he was a lover of the outdoors. He would pack up his VW camper and set off for Wyoming in search of the next best fishing spot. When not knee deep in a stream or floating down a river, he and his fishing buddies could be found every Wednesday night at 4:30PM at a bar in Wheatridge, Golden or Edgewater, a 50+ year tradition known as ‘beer thirty’.

As Stephen and Jennifer grew up, Rich shared his love of skiing, fishing, a good mountain drive and camping with them. He was the dad that never yelled, gave his kids freedom to make mistakes and shared his experience and knowledge so they could be independent and successful.

Rich always said ‘the French have it figured out’ and lived his life with a laissez-faire joie de vie. He was a man of few words, smiled when you walked into the room and always listened when you talked. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter and son-in-law Andrew.

Next time you wade into a stream and catch a fish, take in the view of aspens changing, swim in a lake or ocean, or see Michigan score a touchdown, give a Go Blue shout and hoist a lager for Ricky.

Family and Rich's Fishing Buddies will head up to the Miracle Mile in May to take Rich fishing one last time. More details to come.