Joseph J. Krupar, Jr.

Joseph J. Krupar Jr., born September 19, 1941, died March 22, 2024 in Lakewood, Colorado. He grew up in the Near West Side of Cleveland. He attended St. Coleman School and St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. When he graduated high school he went to Miami University of Ohio, where he attended three years before transferring to Fenn College in Cleveland due to its cooperative education program in engineering. Upon graduating from Fenn College, Joseph left Ohio for Colorado where he earned a Master’s degree in engineering from the University of Denver. He graduated on May 11, 1973 with his Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.  

Joseph’s dissertation research was on a method for hot-pressing ceramic and metallic materials into a cermat. The dissertation was classified at the time by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), which prevented him and his dissertation advisor from publishing their findings. This led to the AEC hiring him in 1972. Joseph researched the design and performance of different mixed oxide fuels. He joined the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) team that oversaw the construction and operations of the experimental Fast Flux Test Facility at the Hanford Nuclear Site and served as a DOE operations manager of the Hanford Site Tank Farms. He was transferred from the Hanford Site to the Rocky Flats Plant outside of Denver in 1988. Joseph became Senior Resident Inspector DOE Headquarters, Rocky Flats beginning in September 1988. During his time in federal service, Joseph worked for the U.S. AEC, U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, and the U.S. DOE. 

Joseph was awarded the U.S. Department of Energy Meritorious Service Award as Site Safety Representative at Rocky Flats in October 1990. He also received the U.S. Department of Energy Distinguished Career Service Award in June 2001when he retired. Prior to retirement from federal service, Joseph spent time at DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden Colorado. His time in federal employment made him appreciate the phrase, “trust but verify” throughout his career. 

Joseph married Karen R. Krupar (Wingerd) June 14, 1969 in Greeley Colorado. Karen preceded him in passing, December 4, 2023. They had two children Jason and Shiloh. Their children honored them with a memorial bench for their 50th wedding anniversary in 2019 near the playgrounds at Kendrick Lake, CO. 

During retirement Joseph briefly served as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Metropolitan State College (University) of Denver. He wrote and got published an article on the ghost town of Silver Creek in Colorado Heritage in 2002. Joseph was an amateur silversmith, rockhound and lapidarist. He loved to go jeeping up in the mountains in search of forgotten ghost towns and abandoned mines. Joseph had a lifelong interest in mystery novels and took a crack at writing his own. He earned a black belt in Karatedo Doshinkan. Weight-lifted his entire adult life. Once served in the Richland WA, Council No. 3307 Knights of Columbus. He was a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan and cheered the Denver Broncos and DU Pioneers to their championships. 

He is survived by son Jason (Carmen), grandson Jacob, and daughter Shiloh (Josh). He is survived by his siblings: Mary Anne Mulroy (John), Barbara Tabor (Charles), Rita Wiant (Kurt), Gerald Krupar (Rosemary), and Michael Krupar along with numerous nephews and nieces. 

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Jude Catholic Church, Lakewood, CO May 24, 2024 at 11 am.

Please share your memories of Joseph and condolences with his family by signing the guest book below.