Joseph Charles "Joe" Prinster
Marriages
Delia Rossini - September 13, 1947
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5A Obituary - January 2, 2015
Joseph C. Prinster
April 18, 1925 - December 24, 2014
Joseph Charles Prinster passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve at the Larchwood Inn where he had been a resident for the past year. He was 89.
Joe was born in Grand Junction on April 18, 1925 to Frank Joseph Prinster, Sr. and Josephine Patterson Prinster, the fifth of their eight children. A man of deep faith, Joe wanted everyone to know that "God put us here to enjoy our wives and children, friends, and others that we know and have time to be with."
Joe graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1943 with
a scholarship to study engineering at Colorado School of Mines, but his college days were quickly cut short as he was soon drafted into the army as an infantryman. He served in the European theater with the 517th Division of the 3rd Army,
fighting in the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge during the winter of 1944. He was awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded during battle.
After the war, Joe returned to his family home at 1302 Chipeta Ave. His father encouraged him to work for City Market instead of returning to college. Joe realized he had a knack for store design, construction and development, as well as promoting the meat department. At that time, City Market consisted of three stores, one in Grand Junction at 4th & Rood, one in Delta, and one in Montrose. Joe devoted his career to developing and leading the City Market business, eventually serving as
president from 1978 - 1987. At the time of his retirement, the
City Market chain had grown to include 41 stores in four states.
In addition to his service to his country and to his family
business, Joe was a leader in his church, his community and on the Western Slope of Colorado. Joe helped establish the Mesa County Economic Development Council (now the Grand
Junction Economic Partnership), was an active Chamber of
Commerce board member, and led the committee to build St.
Joseph Catholic Church in Grand Junction. His generosity to the Colorado Mesa University, the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, Grand Valley Catholic Outreach, Holy Family School, and numerous other civic and cultural organizations is well known.
Respected for his business acumen, his vision, his faith, his
fairness, and his dedication to helping those in need, he
remained active in business, church, and community
organizations for as long as he was able.
Joe married the woman of his dreams, Delia Rossini, on
September 13, 1947, and remained a devoted husband for 63 years until her death in 2010. He will forever be remembered as a loving husband and father, always available to listen and encourage, as well as tell a good story.
He is survived by his six children, Joseph Prinster Jr. (Mary
Kay Braccio) of Boulder, CO; John Prinster, of West Palm
Beach, FL; Lisa Prinster Tuthill (Howard Tuthill) of Avon, CO;
Steven Prinster of Brookings, OR; Daniel Prinster (Elise) of
Grand Junction, CO and James Prinster (Julie) of Littleton, CO; one brother, Brother Nicholas Prinster OCSO of Huntsville, UT; two sisters, Mary Luff of Grand Junction and Lucille Haggerty of Peoria, AZ, 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Delia; one grandchild,
Katherine; his brothers, Frank Prinster Jr. and Leo T. (Teo)
Prinster; and his sisters, Martha Prinster and Josephine Deonier.
A rosary will be offered for Joe on Friday, January 2nd, at 5:30 p.m. and a funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 3rd. Both services will be held at St Joseph Catholic Church in Grand Junction.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Colorado Mesa
University Foundation (CMU Foundation) for the Joseph and
Delia Prinster Family Scholarship, 1450 North 12th Street,
Grand Junction, CO 81501.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B Death Notice - December 27, 2014
Joseph C. Prinster, 89, Grand Junction, died Dec. 24, 2014, at
Larchwood Inns.
A rosary will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic
Church. Services will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 3 at the church. Inurnment
will be at Orchard Mesa Cemetery, and a reception will follow
at Two Rivers Convention Center.
Survivors include five sons, Joseph C. of Boulder, John C. of
West Palm Beach, Florida, Steven T. of Brookings, Oregon, Daniel
E. of Grand Junction and James M. of Littleton; one daughter,
Lisa Tuthill of Avon; one brother, Brother Nicholas Prinster
O.S.C. of Huntsville, Utah; two sisters, Mary Luff of Grand Junction
and Lucille Haggerty of Peoria, Arizona; 17 grandchildren;
and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions to the CMU Foundation for the Joseph
and Delia Prinster Family Scholarship.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 1A & 5A Article - December 27, 2014
