Michael H. Marek
February 25, 1963 ~ December 3, 2021
ObituaryMichael H. Marek was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 25, 1963. Mike was the fifth child of Harry and Marge Marek. He is survived by his wife, Sandy; stepchildren Kristy (George) Craig, Kathy (Patrick) McDonald, and Mark Squire; grandchildren Shannon Craig Grubb (Tyler), Nathaniel Craig, Malachi McDonald (Krystal), Micah McDonald, and Alexander Squire; and great-grandchild Thomas Grubb. He is survived by four older siblings: Richard Marek (Halina), Margaret Reyzer (Ken), Patricia Marek, and Karen Meno (Michael); and many nieces and nephews from his family.
Mike was well-known among the parishioners of St. Jude Catholic Church in Lakewood, Colorado, where in 2013 he became the Coordinator of Music Ministry. With his wife Sandy as the director, Mike started Joyful Heart Choir. Other groups he created were Chenaniah Praise Band, the Youth Praise Band, the Unity Choir, the Trinity Choir, the Good Friday Choir, and the Easter Vigil Choir. Mike believed there was a place for everyone who wanted to sing to the Lord. Mike began his church organist career at the age of nine at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He had to wait until then because he was too short to reach the organ pedals prior to that. Mike’s first choir was The Singing Bees, which he started with his mother. He accompanied Masses and other services at St. Bernadette until the age of 24 when he moved to Colorado to join his sister, Karen, or maybe it was for the skiing. He was always a little cagey on which one. Mike was a gifted musician and composer. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Audio Engineering from the University of Colorado, Denver. Prior to working at St. Jude, Mike worked at the Denver Center for Performing Arts and the Arvada Center. During this time, he also played with his band, Last Child. In 1996, Mike won the Heartland Regional Emmy Award for his 1995 audio work on the documentary about Coors Field, “Home at Last.” Mike’s first musical love was playing for the Catholic Liturgy. He wrote musical settings for the complete three-year Psalm cycle of Sundays. Other works include musical pieces for specific Liturgical feasts and his composition of sung Stations of the Cross – One Step Closer. Mike’s favorite time of year was The Triduum – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday Easter Vigil. Some of his works are specific to these holy days. Sandy was the love of Mike’s life. They were married for 35 years. The age difference between them was unnoticeable because they were so compatible in so many ways. Mike and Sandy took many trips over the years. They visited Europe and traveled extensively in South and Central America. Costa Rica was their favorite place, and they made many great memories there. Mike was loved by the children in his family and by those at St. Jude. He was playful and kind, with a quirky sense of humor. Mike brought play into the lives of those who knew him. He was known for silly antics such as having his life-sized BB8 robot chase various coworkers in the church office. Mike was known for bringing out abilities that we never knew we had. He mentored the youth musicians, taught confidence to the adult musicians, and pushed many of us beyond our limits to do things we never knew we could. Mike could figure out how to do just about anything. When asked how he did that, he always replied, “My dad taught me.” Mike was small in stature but large in presence. His absence will leave a large hole in all of our lives that can never be filled. |
EulogyMost of you know me. I’m Karen Meno, one of Mike’s sisters. This is my husband, Mike Meno. I’ve been Mike and Karen most of my life.
Mike Marek. Where do I even start? I guess I will start at the beginning. On February 25, 1963, when I heard that I had a baby brother, I was bitterly disappointed. I was almost 5 and couldn’t understand why everyone else wanted a boy. When I got my first look at him, all that dissolved. I was hooked. I remember Mike crying in his crib when Mom put him to bed at night. I would sneak in and hold his hand till he fell asleep. We shared a room for many years. At night we would giggle and make all kinds of noise till Dad came in and “told” us to go to sleep. Then we would giggle under the covers. There were five us kids in our family: Rick and the twins… and the kids. That designation as “the kids” sealed our fate. Neither one of us has ever been able to completely grow up. You know that about Mike if you’ve spent any time with him. That twinkle in his eye and his quick, mischievous grin…. “Help me, Rhonda!” Who is going to say that now? Who is going to chase Father Bob with a life-sized BB8 robot? Who else could inspire me to stuff Nikkole’s office with weeping angels while she was on vacation? How will Sandy’s name change every few months? Sawney, Snatty, Flicka, and so many more! Mike could get people to do things they never thought they could do. Case in point. I did NOT want to play praise and worship music. I wanted to sing Gregorian chant. I especially never wanted to play lead piano. And I never ever, ever wanted anything to do with a sound board. He was the audio engineer. Why should I have to run sound??? Yet here I am. I can do it. Mike is still making me to do things I didn’t think I could do. I am sure each of you has a story about that. How many of our parish kids have come up to this very ambo during Mass to cantor the Psalms? That’s Mike. Not many parishes allow an 8-year-old that responsibility. Mike saw it was possible, and so kids, don’t stop just because Mike isn’t here to tell you to do it. If he had faith in you to proclaim the Psalms, then you find a way to continue to do it, even if you need a stepladder to reach the ambo. Blaise, who wrote the Psalms? How many of you joined a choir for the first time because Mike had faith in you? Mike was good at seeing a musical potential and making it happen. Joyful Heart was his first choir here. He and Sandy had a vision for that group, and they worked hard to bring the best possible music to Saturday evening Masses. Unity Choir – anyone who wanted to sing for just a particular Mass such as Thanksgiving. Trinity Choir for Good Friday and other special times. The Men’s Choir. The Vigilantes -- Ha! Easter Vigil choir. Sandy always comes up with the best names! Then there were the choirs Mike let me have. Covenant Choir – I finally got to do that Gregorian Chant thing. The Children’s Choir. Mike started The Youth Praise Band and asked me to help. Little did I know he would foist it off on me! I loved it and he knew I would. And then there is Chenaniah. A versatile group reflecting Mike’s vision. One moment we’re a church choir singing a Latin Sanctus. The next we’re rocking out in praise of Jesus. And at the picnic, the guys (and I mean the guys, literally) got to live out their dreams of being a rock band. How can one person accomplish so much? Mike crammed a lot of living into his days, frequently long into the morning hours. He lived with constant pain the past few years, but he never let it stop him. He set goals and achieved them. Always something new to strive for. Woodworking, mosaic-making, kayaking, more music projects than I can count. When we asked him about sleep, he always responded, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Bad news, bro: according to St. Therese of Lisieux, that is NOT how it works. Mike loved music, especially liturgical music. Working at St. Jude was his dream job. He recently completed writing the music for the three-year Psalm cycle, although he never took credit for composing the tunes. When anyone asked where the notes came from, he would cock his head and grin, point to heaven, and say, “God.” Mike’s position will be hard to fill. His official job description did not include things like “build a train for Brenda to use at VBS.” Or set up a really cool forest in the parish center for the Ministry Fair, complete with a life-size cut-out of Father Shaffer riding an antelope. Or repair the light board in the church so the lights quit flickering during Mass. Or how about let’s build a Rosary Park? The idea of a Rosary Walk was Brenda’s. But she made the mistake of mentioning it to Mike and the next thing she knew, it was a full-blown botanic garden with a Rosary walk as the central feature! Please don’t neglect it. It has flowers, shrubs, a hummingbird garden, fruit trees, and raspberries, a swing set, and more. That vision has become a reality. Need a bobcat to make it happen? No worries, Mike found one. He bought it. Sounds foolish, right? Not to Mike. It was important to honor the Blessed Mother by drawing people to prayer in a beautiful area. A mini-Garden of Eden if you will. Who else would have spent so much time and so much of his own resources building that beautiful space? I could go on and on and on. Mike had so much depth, such personality, and so much to offer. He left little bits of himself all over his house, his office, the St. Cecilia Room, the church… Our hearts. I’m not happy with God right now for taking Mike back, but eventually I will come to terms with His decision. I fully expect that Mike will shake things up in heaven as he has here in our lives. And keep your ears open and your hearts attuned. Mike will find a way to speak to you if you pay attention. |