Br. Linus Scepurek

Brother Linus Scepurek 91 year old resident of Pierz, MN died Thursday, December 3 at his home in Pierz, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, December 9 at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 11:30 AM with Rev. Chris Reuter, OFM officiating and concelebrating will be Rev. Ken Riedemann and Rev. Nick Landsberger. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00-8:00 PM on Tuesday, December 8 at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service and from 8:00-11:00 AM on Wednesday at the funeral home. Franciscan Sisters will pray the Rosary at 5:45 PM followed by Parish Prayers at 7:00 PM on Tuesday at the funeral home. Brother Linus Peter Scepurek was born January 5, 1918 Swan River Township, Morrison County, Minnesota to the late Jacob and Mary (Schlichting) Scepurek. He grew up in Morrison County and graduated from Little Falls High School in 1932. For 44 years from the time of his first profession in 1951, Linus served the Church and the Order carrying out fraternal work as a handy-man and maintenance-man in four major institutions of Sacred Heart Province in Illinois: St. Joseph Seminary in Teutopolis (1951-1961), St. Paschal's School for Brothers in Westmont (Oak Brook) from 1961 to 1966, St. Joseph Seminary in Westmont (Oak Brook) from 1966 to 1972, and finally at Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago, Illinois (1972-1994). Many stories are told about his activities and antics with his fellow brothers during these years of fraternal service. In 1995 his life took a different turn. He received permission to be attached to Sacred Heart Friary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and to take up residence with his mother at the family home in Pierz (near Little Falls) in order to provide filial care for her in her later years. When his mother passed away, he stayed in Pierz to care for other family members nearby. In time, as he aged, his family cared for him. Recently he was showing signs of greater diminishment. Linus was a good-natured fellow and had a good sense of humor - a joker with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face. He also had a unique sense of simplicity and detachment. He had very little, and what he did have (especially his tools) he could walk away from or give away. Linus was very analytical and had an exceptional memory. He enjoyed gardening, mechanics, farming and reading. Linus loved his time spent with family, a beer, a chew of snuff and a warm fire. Left to cherish his memory are his siblings, Mary Meyer of Pierz, MN, Theresa Bieg and husband, Francis, of Cherokee Village, AR, Alphonse Scepurek and wife, Mary, of Chicago, IL; sister-in-law, Geraldine Scepurek; nieces and nephews, Gervais Schmidt, Therese Rich, Rose Mary Schmidt, Virginia Schmidt, Gerard Schmidt, Virgil Meyer, Steven Meyer, Yvonne Meyer, Louise Rudolph, Mary Lynn Bastoni, Vincent Meyer, Lois Meyer, Henry Scepurek, Michael Newton, Edwin Scepurek, Mary Colombe, JoAnn Misbe, Jim Scepurek, Gabriel Scepurek, Teresa DePatio, Sebastian Scepurek, Jacinta LaDonne, Rebecca ? ,Jacob Scepurek. Many great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Mary Scepurek; siblings, Albert, Raymond, John, infant Michael and Pauline Schmidt, sisters-in-law, Rose and Rita Scepurek; brothers-in-law, Clifford Meyer and Frank Schmidt.