John Koons, 80, of Burger Brewing Walnut Hills grad moved to Florida
By Karen Andrew Enquirer staff writer
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Former Cincinnati resident John Fletcher Koons III, a member of the family that once operated Cincinnati's Burger Brewing Co., died March 3 at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Palm Beach Gardens resident was 80.
"My father lived in Cincinnati his whole life, had many friends there, and loved that city," wrote one of his daughters, Deborah Koons Garcia, of Mill Valley, Calif., who is a filmmaker and widow of Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia. "He was a unique personality, devoted to his family, his friends, and his work. His children jokingly called him Mr. Enthusiasm because of his positive attitude and the natural gusto he had for life."
His son, John F. "Jeff" Koons, of West Palm Beach, who is a Palm Beach County commissioner, described Mr. Koons as "a kind and generous man. He was enthusiastic and had a very gentle heart."
Known to his friends as "Jack" or "Bud," Mr. Koons attended Kilgour School and Walnut Hills High School. His first job was as a Cincinnati Enquirer paper boy.
He attended the University of Arizona but dropped out at the beginning of World War II to join the Marines.
He graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., in 1945 and married Patricia Boyle in 1947.
Mr. Koons continued the family tradition established by his grandfather and father by working for Midland Advertising Co. and Burger.
According to his family, he was a lifelong sports enthusiast who relished Burger's sponsorship of the Cincinnati Reds radio and TV broadcasts.
"He jogged every day for decades and enjoyed racing, running twice in San Francisco's famous costumed Bay to Breakers race, once wearing Cincinnati Reds regalia,'" wrote Garcia. "He traveled widely with friends and family to ski, fish, hike, kayak, scuba dive, golf and play tennis."
When the brewing portion of Burger was purchased by Hudepohl Brewing Co. in 1973, Mr. Koons, then president of Burger, founded Central Investment Corp., which took over Burger's soft drink manufacturing and bottling operations.
Mr. Koons was owner of the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Fort Lauderdale-Palm Beach Inc. until it was sold to PepsiAmerica in 2004.
His memberships included the Cincinnati, Hyde Park, Ryland Lakes, and Burning Tree Country Clubs and the Queen City and University clubs. He served on a number of boards, including Summit Country Day School, Evergreen College of Olympia, Wash., The Cincinnati Automobile Club and the Betty Ford Center. His family said he was a committed member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 20 years.
In addition to his daughter and son, he is survived by his former wives, Patricia Koons of Indian Hill and Chris Koons of St. Augustine, Fla.; son James of Eugene, Ore.; daughter Christina of Seattle; a sister, Mary Jane Mitchell of Juno Beach Fla.; and seven grandchildren.
Services have been held.
Memorials: Walnut Hills Alumni Foundation, 3250 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45207.
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