Joseph Lee Thompson

Joseph Lee Thompson - a righteous man - passed away peacefully in his sleep in the comfort of his mountain home next to his beloved wife at a good age of 77 on September 21st, 2026.

“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid…, for the LORD your God is the One who is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

Joseph was a good man, who fought for righteousness in the face of adversity. Born into a modest home, the son of a carpenter in Terre Haute, Indiana, Joseph would often find creative ways to care for himself. An entrepreneur from an early age, he would spend childhood days gathering leftover bottles around the neighborhood to earn a little cash; or working with friends to grab pieces of ice from the milk truck to cool off in the summer heat. He pursued righteousness throughout his life and career, fighting for “the little guy”, and caring for the oppressed.

At an early age of 12, Joseph found a love and skill for the game of tennis. His dad didn’t understand why Joseph would pursue “a rich man’s sport”, but Joseph did not give up. He spent hours honing his skill after school, hitting a tennis ball against the back of a brick wall with a racquet given to him from a friend. He would bike for miles to “the other side of the tracks” to compete against the wealthy kids from private clubs. Joseph did not have access to coaching so for game theory and strategy, he researched every book he could find in the local library. At 16, he won the Terre Haute Boys’ 18s championship. Joseph continued for two years, undefeated in high school conference play, claiming a top-5 Indiana ranking and earning himself a tennis scholarship to play for Indiana State University.

Tennis paved a way for Joseph to secure a higher education, something few were able to achieve from his “side of the tracks”. He served as the Director of Tennis at Rolling Hills Country Club in Golden, Colorado for more than 25 years. In the evenings, he earned his Masters in Business Administration, transforming his coaching career into the business of tennis. Joe is a two-time recipient of the Intermountain PTA Professional of the Year award (1983, 1986). In 1987, he received his USPTA Master Professional certification, a distinction owned by less than 1.5% of tennis professionals worldwide, and has served on numerous national tennis committees. After receiving the USPTA’s prestigious Alex Gordon Award as America’s top teaching professional in 1998, Joe served as the National President of the USPTA for three consecutive terms (1999-2002). In 2004, Joe was inducted in the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame. His impact was felt by thousands of tennis teaching professionals; many of whom were launched into their careers and carefully mentored by him into success.

If you asked Joe, however, his most precious achievements are in the lives of his children and his grandchildren. He is survived by the love of his life Anne, children Betsey, Joseph, and Katie as well as eight grandchildren. He had a firm belief that family came first, not simply in words, but in the way that he lived. He created a home alongside his wife Anne; marked by love, security, faith, and the assurance that his family would always have a place to belong. Through every season of life, he held that line: Family was worth showing up for, fighting for, forgiving for, and protecting. He will be remembered as a righteous man of deep faith in Jesus Christ, a fighter for the oppressed, a mentor, a wise and fierce lover of his family. Of all the things he built, accomplished, and gave during his life, the family he loved so fiercely will remain his greatest legacy.

If you knew Joseph, his family would appreciate that you share a story you remember about him, or a way that he impacted you in the Add a Memory section on the website.