Joseph H. Franzgrote

Joe Franzgrote , 75, passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. Joe was born on April 10, 1934 in Peoria, Illinois to Joseph H. Franzgrote Sr. and Romaine (Oberer) Franzgrote. He attended Spaulding High School (now Notre Dame) in Peoria and graduated from The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana in 1957 where he was a broadcast journalism major. Joe spent his entire career in the television broadcast industry. He began his career at the Notre Dame television station, WNDU, in South Bend. From there, he rose through the ranks of television sales in Peoria, IL; Rockford, IL; Seattle, WA.; Minneapolis, MN and Denver, CO. Joe came to Denver in 1967 and became the General Sales Manager of K*USA TV. In 1983 when Gannett Broadcasting purchased KARE-TV in Minneapolis, MN., Joe went to Minneapolis as the President and General Manager. He was there until 1989 where he led that station from a No. 5 rating to the No. 1 rated station in Minneapolis. In 1989 Joe returned to Denver as the President and General Manager of K*USA TV. Joe retired in April of 1999 after 44 continuous years in the broadcast industry. Joe was tremendously involved with the philanthropic and charitable organizations in both Minneapolis and Denver. He believed it was the duty of broadcast facilities to enhance and enrich the lives of all who were served by a station's ability to reach the public. Joe was instrumental in forming the 9 Who Care broadcast program, and the successful , well established 9 Health Fair. Additionally, Joe took great pride in the station's continuing community support of the 9 Cares, Colorado Shares food drive. Among a few of the many community services that Joe supported were the boards of Denver Metro Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Denver Metro Board of the American Heart Association, Volunteers of America, Mayor's Office of Art, Culture and Film; Opening logistics of Denver International Airport Gala, Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre opening, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Colorado Neurological Institute, National Jerry Lewis MD Telethon, University of Colorado's President's Leadership Class, Denver Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Joe's hobbies included golfing, fishing, reading, art, antique stein collecting, and, as would be expected, all aspects of the television industry. Joe was a member of the International Mensa Society and Glenmoor Country Club. Joe was also a Director Emeritus of First American State Bank in Greenwood Village. Joe was afflicted with the rare neurological disease, Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) which eventually stops all movement including walking, talking, blink rate, eye movements and all motor coordination. He was a patient of Rocky Mountain Movement Disorders Center under the direction of Rajeev Kumar, M.D. Joe is survived by his wife of 49 years, Helenn (Reitsch) Franzgrote; son, John Franzgrote and granddaughter, Brenna Franzgrote of Highlands Ranch. Joe has one brother, Ernest J. Franzgrote and (Amy Douglas) of Shoreham, VT; nephew, Christoph Franzgrote (Ellen Keel) of New York City; niece, Merula Franzgrote (Greg Marshall) of California, grand nieces and one grand nephew plus many cousins throughout the country. Funeral will services will be held on March 10, 2010 at 1:00 pm. at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, 830 Elm Street, Denver, Colorado 80220. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be directed to The Colorado Neurological Institute Movement Disorders Center, 701 East Hampden Avenue, Suite 510, Englewood, CO 80113.