Marie Barbara Scepurek

Marie Barbara Scepurek, 97, of Brighton, CO passed away on May 30, 2026.  She was born in Brighton to John and Clara Kreitzer, the oldest of four children.  Marie attended school in Brighton and eventually took her first job at a local laundromat for a short time.  She then worked at the local Kuner-Empson company canning pickles.  She eventually had an opportunity to take a job at Samsonite Luggage Corporation in Denver, CO (originally known as the Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company).  She worked in the factory performing different jobs required to put together hard side suitcases.  Marie retired after 35 years of service.  She wanted to continue working part time and took a job with the 27J school district working in the kitchen, and volunteered reading to young children.  She retired nine years later.

Marie met and married the love of her life, Leo Scepurek and the couple married in 1949.  They made their home in Brighton, CO, next door to Marie’s parents.  Although they did not have children, they enjoyed time with several nieces and nephews.  They also enjoyed the company of five dogs throughout different years including a gorgeous German Shepard named Princess, and four Dachshunds; Penny, Polly, Tammy and Shelly.  The couple traveled extensively, including a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a tour of Europe and a cruise.  They also traveled to Minnesota every summer to visit Leo’s brothers and sister, their families as well as several cousins.  The couple took many camping trips as well and enjoyed lots of fishing.

When Maire’s husband Leo passed away in 1999, her heart was left with a huge hole.  She kept busy working in her yard and enjoying her lawn and flower garden.  A couple of weeks after Leo died, a large, beautiful tuxedo cat showed up on Marie’s doorstep.  He was very friendly and affectionate.  Marie fed him and decided to name him Moses.  She always joked that this cat was Leo, coming back to check on her.  After several years, Moses died, and within a couple of weeks, a spicy calico cat showed up, again on Marie’s doorstep.  This cat was not so friendly, but of course, hungry.  So, Marie named her Her Highness.  Funny thing, whenever Marie was out in her yard pulling weeds, Her Highness was right beside her.  After a few years, this cat disappeared and did not return.  Low and behold, about two weeks later, another tuxedo cat showed up.  This one a female, and smaller than Moses.  Marie named her Gypsy.  Last summer, another cat came around, this one a grey scruffy looking male, named Tiger.  Both Gypsy and Tiger are doing well and now in the care of Marie’s niece Nadine.

Marie was a lifelong and very devout Catholic, and a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Brighton.  She was a member of the Traditional Choir and enjoyed volunteering along with other church members counting money.  She also enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles, polka dancing and going out to breakfast after mass on Sundays with her sister Geraldine and Niece, Nadine.

Marie was fiercely independent and could be quite ornery.  Yet she was very friendly, would always be there when needed.  She will be sorely missed.

Survivors include her aunt, Peggy Dinkel and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Preceding her in death are her parents, husband Leo Scepurek, (infant) sister Vonita Mae Kreitzer, brother Joseph John Kreitzer and sister Geraldine Marie Knodel.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marie Barbara Scepurek, please visit our floral store.