Brett Wilson. It’s a name that, when you say it out loud, someone responds with, “Brett Wilson? I love him!” and proceeds to share a memory of him with a huge smile on their face. These memories are a testimony to his life and the lasting impact that he made on everyone who knew him. It’s truly remarkable how many people one man can touch, and continue to touch, in his 23 years on this Earth. Brett was someone you were naturally drawn to, from his infectious laugh and witty sense of humor to his compassion and enthusiasm for life. Everywhere he went, he had an ability to turn strangers into friends.

Brett was a graduate of Olmsted Falls Class of 2016 and enlisted in the United States Army afterwards.

After being discharged, Brett took some time and decided to serve the public as a firefighter. He completed his Firefighter II and EMT certification from Tri-C Community College. The Columbia Township Fire Department hired Brett in 2018 at the age of 21. Brett continued his education and became a paramedic in 2019. During schooling, he stayed an active member of the department and worked to be an example for new firefighters joining the crew. Brett found a niche in the fire service for fire prevention. He went into the community and helped educate people, especially school-aged, during Fire Prevention Week. Two weeks after Brett’s death, one of the students put these teachings to use and was able to save himself and his father from a gas fire. The American Red Cross awarded Brett a posthumous Hero Award for his role in this event. Lorain County Fire and EMS Service Memorial honored Brett by adding his name to the ‘Personnel Lost in the Line of Duty’ wall, forever to be remembered in his community.

As a firefighter, Brett could not have been more in love with his job and the men and women he worked with. His eyes would light up when he talked about his day. You could tell that this job was more than just a job for him; this is what Brett was born to do. Words like “hardworking” and “passionate” are hardly strong enough to describe his love for his job, and that was evident to everyone around him.

Though the world lost his physical presence, the impact he has had and the memories he has made have proven to be a permanent testimony.