Bret Cole Lopeman

Born April 4, 1958 to Ken and Marge Lopeman, Bret lived a life rooted in hard work, deep love, and unwavering loyalty to the people and things that mattered most to him.

He was a devoted husband of 39 years to his wife, Kelly, a loving father to Krystina (and her husband Zac), Tony, and a proud Papa to his grandchildren. He is survived by his family who meant everything to him.

Bret spent over 30 years working for Ada County as a network and cybersecurity engineer, building a career defined by dedication and integrity. After retiring, he found unexpected joy in working part-time at Home Depot—and he loved everything about it. He often called it his “church.”

He was a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, rarely missing a chance to follow his team.

He also loved going shooting, building Lego, and most of all, spending time with his family—his greatest source of pride and joy.

Bret was a man of strong opinions—you never had to wonder what he was thinking. He stood up for the underdog, valued fairness, and lived with a steady moral compass. Tough on the outside

and soft on the inside, he had a great sense of humor and a big heart. He was, simply, an all around good guy—and they truly don’t make many like him anymore.

After a long and incredibly hard-fought battle with cancer, Bret is now at peace.

He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered.

A life celebration will be held at a later date.