Joshua Guckian

Joshua Brent Guckian, age 40, passed away surrounded by family and friends in Denver, Colorado on the morning of Monday, August 25, 2025. Josh was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 5, 1985, and was the only child of Jack and Angela Guckian. He is survived by both his parents and his husband and loving partner of 12 years, Christopher Gonzales.
Josh graduated from Arcadia High School in 2003 and from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Geography in 2010. Growing up in Arizona, Josh loved photography and live music. He was also a lifelong aviation enthusiast, sharing his passion and deep knowledge of airplanes and flight simulators with friends he made around the world. Josh was also an avid follower of Premier League football, finding community as a devoted member of several Arsenal F.C. supporters' clubs in the various cities where he lived over the years. In his spare time, Josh loved going for long walks with his dog Harper, taking care of his many house plants, and building intricate Lego sets. He also had a passion for cooking and baking, delighting loved ones and coworkers with his delicious homemade desserts.
Professionally, Josh worked as a pharmacy technician and operations specialist for over 15 years. He dedicated himself to helping others by providing access to high-quality healthcare, innovative programs, and a wide range of health solutions that supported families through Medicaid, Medicare, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. His knowledge, patience, and willingness to help made him an irreplaceable part of his team. Josh was deeply committed to serving people in the Medicaid system, but just as importantly, he made a lasting impact on the lives of the colleagues and friends he worked alongside every day. Josh's hard work and dedication were recognized through several awards for his exceptional service, remarkable attention to detail, commitment to accuracy, and unwavering support for both his team and the people they served. Josh always went the extra mile, ensuring that every task was completed with care and integrity.
Above all, Josh was a beautiful soul whose presence and intelligence would light up the room everywhere he went. He will be remembered most fondly for his laughter, wit, and compassion, and will be missed dearly by all the people who were lucky enough to know him.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Josh's name to one of the following Colorado charities:
HumaneColorado.org/donation-center/ (Animal Rescue and Adoption Services)
UrbanPeak.org/support (Homeless Youth Assistance Centers)
LGBTQColorado.org/support (LGBTQ Support and Community Centers)
(Live links for each of these organizations can be found below Josh's obituary)
A memorial and celebration of Josh's life will be held on Sunday, October 5 starting at 12:00 pm MDT in the Lowry Room at Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, Colorado. All friends and family are welcome to attend. Please select the "Event" tab at the top of Josh's memory page for detailed service information.