Shawn Joseph Garbe, of Broomfield, Colorado, passed away at the University of Colorado Anschutz Hospital in Denver on September 28, 2026 following a long but quiet battle with cancer. During his last weeks, he was surrounded by close friends and family, some of whom traveled from far and wide to spend quality time with him while he was with us. Shawn had the kind of charisma that drew people toward him and an effortless way of making people feel like they belonged, with his warm affect and relentless sarcasm. He had a quick wit and a deep pride in his family and friends. Born and raised in Toms River, New Jersey, Shawn spent 12 years in Catholic school, graduating from St. Joseph’s High School in 1975. At 19, he began working at IBM, where he would build a 42-year career, building a family and furthering his education while he worked. His job took him to California and then to Colorado, where he settled long-term, eventually graduating from Regis University in Denver with a BS in Business Administration. He met the love of his life, Paula, in 1998 while playing sand volleyball and met her son, Stephen, shortly after. Shawn and Paula recently celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary. Together, they enjoyed live music—frequenting Red Rocks as often as possible—good food, traveling, and entertaining on holidays. Their house was always warm and inviting on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, and it was the place their close-knit tribe expected to be on each of these days every year. It was apparent that Shawn enjoyed being a dad to Ally and Danny and a stepdad to Stephen, spending a lot of time doing things they all enjoyed together and always making each of them feel important, both individually and as a group. Shawn taught Ally how to play volleyball and then played an integral role in assisting with coaching her high school team. He taught Danny to love golf from a very early age, and up until he could no longer play, he and Danny took every possible opportunity to play rounds together, often including other people they both loved. Shawn always had Stephen’s back in his snowboarding career, taking him to the mountain every weekend for many years and cheering him on in his races. Shawn loved the Jersey Shore, woodworking, fast cars, ice cream, a good cigar, and a cold beer at 4 Noses. He had a lot of passions, but perhaps the leading two were volleyball and golf. He played indoor and outdoor volleyball with a team that became lifelong friends. Over time, he spent less time on the court and more time leaning into golf. He was a member at The Broadlands Golf Course and had two groups of regular golf buddies that he played with often. Throughout his life, Shawn played hundreds of courses, the most notable including St. Andrews and Pebble Beach. He was a devoted husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, brother, and friend. He is survived by his wife, Paula Garbe; his daughter, Allyson Gullette, and her husband, Todd; his son, Daniel Garbe, and his wife, Tina; his stepson, Stephen Florian, and his wife, Mikayla; and his grandchildren, Deegan and Bryce Gullette. He is also survived by his siblings, Brian Garbe (Bob), Patrick Garbe (Mary), and Noeleen McLoughlin (Ken), as well as his brother-in-law, John Castaldo. Not to be left out, he is also survived by his cherished dogs, Louie and Finnigan, who miss him dearly. Shawn was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Eileen Garbe, and his sister, Colleen Castaldo. He had a way of making life feel a little more fun and a little less complicated. He knew how to enjoy the good stuff, and he understood that the good stuff was even better when shared with people you love. The void he left is immense, but the amount of love he leaves in his wake will endure in all of us who were lucky enough to know him. A service will be held at Walnut Creek Golf Course on Friday, October 9, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Light appetizers and beverages will be provided. Join us for a beer afterward at 4 Noses Brewery in Broomfield.