Sterling E. Brechtel

Sterling E. Brechtel, age 92, of Cedaredge, Colorado formerly of Fort Collins died May 12, 2011 at home under Hospice care after battling congestive heart failure. A Rosary and Liturgical service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Fort Collins, Colorado by Deacon Don Lamb. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Rev. Steven Voss will officiate. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery Fort Collins, Colorado. Sterling was born May 1, 1919 in Syracuse, Nebraska to William and Susie "Mitchel" Brechtel. After his father's untimely death in 1922, he was raised by his step dad, Fred Frye. He married Norma Arnold on May 29, 1942 in Syracuse, Nebraska. They moved to Bellevue, Nebraska where Sterling worked at the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft plant during World War II. They had five children. In 1956 the family moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where Mr. Brechtel was a self employed home builder and contractor for thirty years, building 60 homes. Sterling also built several pieces of furniture and completed 98 bas relief carvings on pine.
Sterling's wife, Norma, died of cancer in 1988. He married Peggy Lamb Massey of Fort Collins on April 8, 1989. Sterling helped Peggy raise her son and daughter. Sterling and Peggy moved to Cedaredge, Colorado in July of 2000. Survivors include three sons, Daniel S. Brechtel of Powell River, B.C., Canada, James M. Brechtel of Fort Collins, Thomas C. Brechtel of Loveland, Colorado and daughter, Julie Anne Breen of Cheyenne, Wyoming; step children, Sarah Self of Douglas, Wyoming and Ross Massey of Cody, Wyoming; 10 grandchildren and four great grand children. Surviving siblings are Mary Gartner and Susie Wyatt both of Syracuse, Nebraska and Fred Frye of Hickman, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Norma and daughter, Jane Alice who died in 1951, his sisters, Dorothy Sammons and Irene Zimmerman both of Syracuse, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paulinus Church in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524.