Alvin J. Mosch June 10, 1930 – January 14, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers Sign Guestbook| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Alvin Joe Mosch was born June 10, 1930 in Denver, Colorado to Hans and Elizabeth (Betty) Mosch. He passed away on January 14, 2019 at his home in Idaho Springs, Colorado from congestive heart failure at the age of 88 years old. Al is survived by his aunt, Florence Pryor, his sister, Lorrie Nilson, and his children, Cyndi Mosch, David Mosch (Beckie) and Susie Kiefer (Freddie) his grandchildren, Ryan Kiefer, Collene Kiefer, James Kiefer (Torey), Bryan Goar, Rachel Mosch, Ruth Mosch and Zoanna Goar, his nieces Bambi Ward, Vicki Giordano and nephew David McClellan as well as numerous cousins special to him.
He was excitedly anticipating his first great grandchild, due to arrive in 2019. His parents, Hans and Betty Mosch, his wife Patricia Mosch and his son Victor Mosch preceded him in death. During his childhood in the early Great Depression, he first worked to help his family by delivering milk to houses in Idaho Springs.
As a teen in Arvada he repaired radios and worked as a movie theatre projectionist. In 1947, Al joined the U.S. Navy and studied electronics becoming a radio and teletype communications specialist. He soon advanced to become one of the youngest commissioned officers for his age as a First Class Petty Officer at age 17.
During the Korean War he was stationed at the Port Lyautey Naval Air Station in Morocco. From there, he flew secret air surveillance missions while gathering intelligence about the Soviet Union. Al was honorably discharged near the end of 1951 following a plane crash at sea in which he was the only survivor.
At the end of his tour with the Navy, Al helped his father in numerous Clear Creek, Jefferson and Boulder County mines where they mined gold, silver, tungsten and beryllium. He learned drilling, blasting, timbering and milling techniques. Using his expertise with explosives, he dislodged dangerous “rock hang ups” in the stopes of the Climax Molybdenum Mine near Leadville.
In the 1950s he worked at the Lamartine mine, running the mineral concentration plant for Montana Mining Company. Close to Moab, Utah, at Dead Horse Point, he prospected for uranium ores and found many significant mines. Ultimately, his greatest discovery occurred in 1957 when he met his bride-to-be inside a mine up Virginia Canyon near Idaho Springs.
He was married on May 30th 1958 to Patricia C. Herald, a student at Colorado School of Mines. Early in their marriage, Al worked at Sundstrand as an inventor then as an aerospace quality control inspector at Martin Marietta and Beech Aircraft for the Gemini and Apollo space missions. His efforts helped Pat earn her Engineer of Mines and Geological Engineer degrees from the Colorado School of Mines which allowed them to begin a family.
From 1959 to 1963 his children Cyndi, David, and Susie were born and then in 1978, he was blessed with the birth of his youngest child Victor. Moving to Idaho Springs in 1972, Al helped his community in many ways. He was active with mine search and rescue as well as the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Posse by becoming its captain.
Concerned about local senior citizens, he helped create Project Support, a senior care program in Clear Creek County. For the Empire based Easter Seals Rocky Mountain Village Camp, he helped blast and move rock to create wheelchair accessible trails. After acquiring the Phoenix Gold Mine, he contributed donations from the “Lucky Bucket” to special needs children’s organizations.
At the mine he enjoyed sharing stories with visitors worldwide, enriching many people’s lives. At Red Rocks Community College, he pursued creative writing and then authored seven books chronicling his unique life experiences and family history. Beth Simmons documented much of his life story in her PhD dissertation, Tahosa Territory from the Union Institute and University in 2008.
Al Mosch and the Phoenix Mine were often featured in broadcasts such as: National Geographic, The Travel Channel, Good Morning America, Globe Trekkers, a multitude of television and radio news stations and even several movies including a Hollywood movie titled Silver City. Al was a compassionate and strong-willed man. He loved people and was blessed by the love of many people in return.
Just as his mother, Betty, he had the gifts of gab, intuition, and insight. Like his mother, he had an uncanny perception and appreciation for other people’s experiences and troubles and helped whenever and wherever possible. Like his father, Hans, he possessed grit and determination.
Throughout his life, Al made many lasting friendships and many people share the honor of being considered part of his family circle. He has left us all with many happy memories, is loved dearly and will be missed each and every day. Please come celebrate Al Mosch’s life at Bergan Park Church, 31919 Rocky Village Dr, Evergreen, CO 80439 on Friday, February 1, 2019 at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Global Down Syndrome Foundation or the National Foundation for Cancer Research.
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