Joshua Michael Marquez 44, of Gunnison, passed away in Dubinky, Utah, of natural causes on April 13, 2026.
Josh was born and raised in the Gunnison Valley where he built life long friendships. His first trip to Dubinky, Utah, was as a young kid with the Griffith family. It quickly became one of Josh's favorite places on earth as he loved the sand dunes, crazy rock formations, single tracks and the geyser. Even in a dry desert place he was able to find the beauty in it.
As Josh got older, he found another hobby that he quickly excelled at. Snowmobiling became a new love of his and he even raced for a bit. Josh would spend his summers as a teenager camping, enjoying the outdoors and raising mayhem with his best buds. Savoring the stories that came with each adventure. Josh’s appreciation for the outdoors went beyond land as he bought a boat and decided he loved the water just as much. Josh was an exceptional wakeboarder, boat driver and tube flipper. Many pairs of sunglasses are at the bottom of Blue Mesa as well as Lake Powell. Along Joshua’s life journey he also took up golf, a game he had a love-hate relationship with, as it was a constant challenge that kept him hooked.
When he was not doing any of those things, you would find him at the high school watching his daughters, Kirsten and Alexis, play volleyball. You could also find him at the ice rink, a place that became second nature as he cheered on his girls with his side kick Twiggy. Even with his busy schedule, Josh always made time for family. He was a dedicated father and devoted partner. Joshua and Brandy have been together for just shy of 20 years and married for almost 15. Josh and Brandy met at country jam due to a mutual friend in 2005. Shortly after, the two became inseparable doing everything together from dirt biking, fishing, taking out the side by side, boating and camping. You name it, they were always together. Within the last few years they even worked together in the family business. Josh was and will always be Brandy's person.
Joshua had several jobs that he enjoyed throughout his life. His first job was pumping septic tanks for Jeff Schmaltz, a tough job that gave him a lifetime of stories and a sense of humor that never left him. When he was ready to move on, Josh went to work for Gunnison Muffler, following his passion for welding, which was a skill he started to master in high school. Unfortunately, his passion did not always support all of his hobbies, modifying trucks, cars and golf carts. Josh then trained to become a car salesman alongside his father in the family business his parents acquired, ensuring him a future in the car industry. Josh worked for John Roberts Motor Works for nearly 20 years where he built solid relationships with a large amount of the Gunnison community.
We will miss his sense of humor, his smile and his heart of gold. Josh was a great person inside and out and always went above and beyond for others.
Josh is survived by his wife, Brandy Marquez; two daughters, Kirsten Tursich and Alexis Duke; his father, Mike Marquez; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He will be joining his mom, Veronica Marquez, along with grandparents, an uncle and aunt, and his dog Twiggy.
A celebration of life will be held at Western Colorado University ballroom at 400 Escalante Drive in Gunnison on April 26 from 1 to 4 p.m.
