Michael Marek

Michael 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.

Vigil Service Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 6:00 pm, Funeral Mass Thursday, December 16, 2021, 11:00 am, both at St. Jude Catholic Church, 9405 West Florida Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80232.

Service recording at: https://downloads.boxcast.com/2021-12-21-002420-tmsfxijuubyok1kbsxh1-1080p-b0s-e6775s.mp4?response-content-disposition=attachment&Expires=1642642501&Signature=AuDJNxwYLJa4zQU6Zxq98g3ak-RFsL7SxQ1UT1aN8EGnPSWWEEfCKVQ4Pf1TD2ABNXlLyIfH9bQB6jduv5KKqM2nQ5yzxn48GZgCGQV9ir-gXOY8Dt~5bAWxWuwX1n8FYnyQvrFWyD3luHo8J8hb7Rm2rKQyMZO7qEF9QkbYDz2Xki1sqlfbZ79~PhvvvTv09klL-uYnbbCASOwKAKqwOJxJrpitQIkoVwhwqhery6wPon4H-JqCXd208ih6DY~Ia2CN0KJyj~sW7Px0vsMRD4Ptv1M75a8ASEDxNUTkDBrpGE9P4NYaqUksDUZ8mWzU~e40y2N1GCmQJ32rjTj-TA__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJ7GUCBQUK6NTWZCA