If you’ve spent any time on the water around Winneconne and Lake Poygan, chances are your best days on the boat had Brett Gelbach’s fingerprints all over them. He was the guy behind Oshkosh Dock & Lift, the barges at the Sand Bar Bash, and that unmistakable mix of hard work, quick wit, and “let’s make this awesome” energy that turned regular weekends into stories people tell for years.​

A legend behind Oshkosh Dock
Brett wasn’t just the owner of Oshkosh Dock & Lift; he was the heartbeat behind countless docks, lifts, and riverfront hangouts across our area. He poured himself into his work, building and fixing the setups that keep everyone’s boats ready for those perfect Wisconsin days on the water.​

He also owned Boondocks Pilings and Piers and took pride in being the guy who could build, repair, or improve just about anything involving water, steel, and sweat. His dedication turned customers into friends and projects into long-running stories told over sunsets and sandbars.​

Sand Bar Bash and making events better
The Sand Bar Bash on Lake Poygan near Winneconne is a once-a-year “don’t miss it” event, and Brett was a huge part of why it felt like a floating festival instead of just another day on the lake. From bringing out the barges to helping with logistics, he had a knack for turning good plans into great memories.​

He was always finding a reason to show up, pitch in, and make every event just a little better. Poker runs, sand bar parties, charity events – if it involved boats, people, and a chance to help, Brett somehow found a way to be in the middle of it with that trademark grin.​

The dockside teacher, jokester, and friend
Brett had a rare combination of talent and patience: he could fix almost anything, and he was just as willing to teach you how to do it yourself. Whether it was explaining how to set a lift right, showing someone how to handle equipment, or walking a newbie through their first docking adventure, he made people better without making them feel less.​

He wasn’t always a man of many words, but when he did speak, it was often with a perfectly timed one-liner that cut the tension and got everyone laughing. That mix of quiet confidence, mischief, and kindness made him the kind of friend people felt lucky to have and even luckier to work alongside.​

Love, family, and a life lived full throttle
Away from the docks and barges, Brett built a life with the love of his life, Danielle Sweeting, in Oshkosh. Together they created a world filled with adventure, long days, and the kind of partnership that shows up in both the good times and the grind.​

He was deeply connected to his family – parents Dan and Barb, and siblings Briana and Garrett – and carried that same loyalty into his friendships and community. Whether he was on a boat, in the shop, flying his plane, or ripping across the snow on a sled, he lived with an energy that said, “If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.”​

A heartbreaking loss for our waters
Losing Brett in a tragic plane accident is a gut punch to everyone who knew him, worked with him, or simply enjoyed the ripple effect of his generosity on the water. The docks will still stand, the Sand Bar Bash will still happen, but there will be a Brett-sized space in all of it that can’t be filled.​

Please keep Danielle Sweeting, Dan and Barb Gelbach, Gerret (Garrett) Gelbach, and Briana Gelbach in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate a loss that is far bigger than any one event or season. For many, the best way to honor Brett will be to help others, tell a joke, and keep saying “yes” when the community needs a hand – just like he did.​

Share your Brett stories
This community is full of people who have “that one time with Brett” stories – the last-minute save, the dock repair in bad weather, the epic sand bar moment, or the quiet conversation at the end of a long day.​

If you have a favorite memory, a funny story, or a moment where Brett made your life or event a little better, please share it in the comments. His legacy lives on every time one of those stories gets told, and together we can keep his spirit out on the water where it belongs.