Joshua Daniel Garbutt

Joshua Daniel Garbutt, known for his wit and fun personality, joined his beloved family members in Heaven on January 5, 2024. He was 40 years old. He passed away, surrounded by family and friends, after a brief but fierce and heroic leukemia battle.

Josh was a family guy and spent much of his free time with his family, including his parents and siblings. The highlight of his life was being husband to his loving wife, Brittany, and father to their children, Reese (8), Finley (5) and Jamison (2). Josh proved this day in and day out playing sports and silly games with the kids and dancing in the kitchen together. From teaching them how to walk, read and ride their bikes to singing their favorite songs, Josh was devoted to his children. He often shared stories about funny things they said and did. When he came home from work, he greeted his kids with a big hug. He took daddy-daughter dance events very seriously. He and Brittany were best friends who laughed every day, and he shared a love song every Thursday to remind her of his love for her.

With a knack for making people feel they’d been friends forever even when they just met, Josh was contagiously positive. You couldn’t help but laugh when you heard his distinct laugh. Once you had a friend in him, he’d do anything for you. He was a natural entertainer, remembered for wearing his favorite pink attire and dancing to 1990s boy bands’ hits.

Josh traveled the country installing complex fire alarm systems on military bases before joining the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58. Over his 15-year career as an electrician, Josh was known as a skilled journeyman and beloved foreman. He was quick to share a joke and made the job sites fun.

Josh was a lifelong hockey player. As a talented forward, he was known for scoring an exceptional number of goals, being fast to defend his teammates and bringing the team together with his humor. He also played softball for many years and loved to golf.

Josh was a super fan of pop and country music, the Michigan State University Spartans, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., the Detroit Red Wings and many other teams and was talented with home improvement projects. He often completed home improvement projects for his mother, father and other family members. He graduated from Franklin High School in Livonia.

Josh is survived by his wife, Brittany, of nine years, and their children Reese, Finley and Jamison Garbutt, his parents, Dan and Laurie Garbutt, siblings Andrew (Jody), Brad (Samantha), Lindsay (Rudy) and Kelsey, parents-in-law Brian and Pam Luka, sister-in-law Heather (Trevor), nephews Tyler, Chase and Callihan, nieces Ellanor, Emilia, Teagan and Ezra, dozens of uncles, aunts, cousins and dear friends. He has reunited in Heaven with his grandparents, Thomas and Donnia Beaudoin and Frances and Wilfred Garbutt, Grandpa Ray Miras, Uncle Howard (“Unc”) and Aunt Mary Lou, Aunt Barb Long and cousin Chris Ebbitt.

A visitation for Joshua will be held Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Harry J Will Funeral Homes, 37000 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48152, with a eulogy at 7:00 PM. An in state will occur Friday, January 12, 2024 at 10:00 AM at St Kenneth Catholic Church, 14951 Haggerty Rd, Plymouth, Michigan 48150, followed by a funeral mass beginning at 10:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joshua's memory may be made towards supporting his family.