Joe Coors Jr. dies

Joe Coors, Jr., a businessman and one-time congressional candidate, died on Sept. 15 at the age of 74.

He was the great grandson of Adolph Coors, founder of the beer empire which began with a brewery in Golden in 1873.

Spanning a career with CoorsTek Inc. — beginning in 1973 according to the company website, Joe Coors held numerous positions with the company, including president, CEO and chairman of the board. He retired in 2000 at the age of 58.

“Joe was an adept business leader in so many ways, but is probably best remembered for his ability to build relationships, find creative solutions to problems, and infect others with his can-do-attitude,” said brother and current chairman of CoorsTek, John Coors.

“He was a great inspiration and friend to me and scores of others.  I will miss him,” said John Coors.

 

According to Don Ytterberg, chairman of the Jefferson County GOP, Coors loved Colorado and he loved Jefferson County.

 

“He was a great community member, and a great Coloradan,” Ytterberg said. “His family’s philanthropic work is almost legendary.”

 

Coors himself had been involved with a number of Colorado-based nonprofit organizations.

 

Coors was born in Philadelphia, in 1942, but moved to Golden in 1944 with his family. While attending college at the University of North Carolina, he met his wife Gail and they married in 1962. Coors later transferred to North Carolina State University where he earned a bachelor’s of science in applied mathematics in 1964.

 

In 2012, Coors, a Republican, ran against U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden, for the 7th Congressional District of Colorado, but lost the race by more than 40,000 votes. He never ran again for office.

 

“I’m sorry to hear about Joe’s passing,” Perlmutter said in a statement issued to the Golden Transcript via email. “He was a friend of mine and our family long before he challenged me in politics. He will be missed.”

 

The two had been onetime neighbors in the Applewood neighborhood of Wheat Ridge.

 

Coors was a man of deep and abiding faith, Ytterberg said, noting he went to bible study at 6 a.m. every Monday at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison.

 

He also enjoyed golf, Ytterberg said. He was one of the parties responsible for building the Rolling Hills golf course in Golden, and along with Ytterberg’s help, developed a ceramic putter. One of his ceramic putters was gifted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in Florida.

 

“Being an avid golfer,” Ytterberg said, “I think he thought that was pretty cool.”

 

Coors is survived by his wife Gail, their four children and nine grandchildren who reside across the Denver-metro area and Fort Collins. He is also survived by four siblings and their spouses and children, a great uncle and a number of great-nieces and great-nephews.

 

He is pre-deceased by his parents, Joseph Coors, Sr. and Holland Hanson Coors.

 

His brother Pete Coors, the vice-chairman of Molson Coors Brewing Company, issued the following statement: “The entire family is deeply saddened by Joe’s death.”

 

Coors’ family is planning a celebration of his life later this fall. In lieu of flowers or other sentiments, the family has suggested a contribution to one of his favorite charitable organizations:

• Colorado School of Mines Foundation | PO Box 4005, Golden, CO 80402

• The Club At Rolling Hills Foundation | 15707 West 26th Avenue, Golden, CO 80401

• Game Day Memories | 3651 South Colorado Boulevard, Englewood, CO 80113

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