John Alfred Kintzele, Sr.

John Alfred Kintzele Sr. (“Jack”) of Denver, Colorado, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 7, 2024, after days of being surrounded by his family.

Jack was born in Denver on August 16, 1936, to Louis Richard “Bud” Kintzele and Adele Catherine Kintzele. He was the second of four children, following his older brother Louis Richard Kintzele, Jr., and followed by sisters Adele Locke and Candace Ann Kintzele. Jack’s early life involved school, sports – especially golf – and working in the family wholesale florist business, Kintzele Inc., which was owned and operated by his grandfather Louis Alfred Kintzele, his father Bud, and uncle Leland T. Kintzele. Jack attended Regis Jesuit High School and was deeply appreciative of the rigor of this early educational experience. He was a faithful, lifelong donor to the school. On graduation, he attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.  While at CU he earned his bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in accounting.  After a short stint at an accounting firm in California, he decided to earn his law degree from CU Law School, where he was a member of the law review. He began his legal career and own firm in 1962, incorporating as Jack Kintzele & Associates.  During his long legal career, he was involved in many precedent-setting cases, perhaps most notably the successful federal case that established the potential dangers of the US Government’s Swine Flu vaccine program. This case made national news and was mentioned in the New York Times.

Inspired by President Kennedy, and Democratic accomplishments in the 1960’s, Jack broke from his earlier conservative values and became involved in Democratic party politics.  He was an active supporter, volunteer, and consultant to many nationally known democrats, including Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm, Senator and Presidential Candidate Gary Hart, and Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder.  Governor Lamm in fact once remarked that Jack was one of five people instrumental in convincing him to make his initial run for what became a highly successful three-term governorship.  Jack also ran for political office at a local level. After an unsuccessful run in 1972 for the Denver City Council, he ran for, won, and served two terms as a Denver Election Commissioner.  As an Election Commissioner, he was instrumental in improving election integrity through the creation and fair distribution of registration and polling locations, especially in disadvantaged and previously underserved neighborhoods. He was a generous lifelong donor to the Democratic party. 

Jack married his first wife, Shirley Asklof, in June 1965. They settled in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood, and from this marriage, Jack had three children: John Alfred Kintzele Jr., Marcia Ann Davis, and Elizabeth Ann Kintzele. Jack later married Suzanne J. Karp in December 1989 and became a dedicated stepfather to Suzanne’s two children, William T. “Billy” Karp and Christoper E. Karp. Jack and Suzanne were happily married for 35 years until his death.  As a father, Jack enjoyed coaching youth soccer, playing rounds of golf, and taking his family to nice meals and on luxurious vacations. We will always gratefully remember the annual summer pilgrimages to Snowmass, Colorado, and later the golfing trips to Palm Springs and Maui.   

Jack is survived by his wife Suzanne; his children John, Marcy, and Elizabeth; his stepsons Billy and Chris; his grandchildren Ruth Kintzele, Talia Kintzele, Tyler Weiner, Trevor Weiner, Owen Davis, Will Karp, and Cassidy Karp.

One of Jack’s highest compliments when speaking of others was “he is a good man” or “She is a good woman”. He would make this pronunciation with a gravitas that left no doubt of how deeply he valued that person.  So we, his family, say this:

Jack Kintzele was a good man.  He will be missed.

Jack’s memorial ceremony will be held on Monday, April 15, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. The service will be at Horan & McConaty, 11150 E Dartmouth Ave, Denver, CO 80014, followed by the burial at 2:00 p.m. at Fairmount Cemetery, 430 S Quebec St, Denver, CO 80247. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests donations be made in Jack’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association for the ongoing fight against the difficulties of dementia.