Joseph Kenneth Scriffiny

Joseph Kenneth Scriffiny, 92, died at home on February 5, 2025, in Olathe, Colorado. Joseph Scriffiny was born March 14, 1932, to Anthony and Linda Zioni Scriffiny. Joseph had two younger siblings, James and Donna. 

Joe was fond of saying that he would not exchange the time in which he lived with any other time in history – which is what many have said over time eternal. Joe’s generation, the Silent Generation, has a stronger claim than most. The generation known for making the complex, simple; a few words, profound. Joe’s first car was a Model T with a crank starter, gravity in lieu of a fuel pump, yet as reliable as any modern automobile, as long you had a wrench and pair of pliers. One of Joe’s favorite meals was Chicken Cacciatore, made from chickens raised on his family’s farm, an USDA recall never in sight. As a child, he loved sitting with his dad and grandfather and their friends, drinking homemade wine made from grapes bought in downtown Denver, actually knowing the pleasure of a first wine. As a young adult, he was a guard on a state football championship team, playing both ways at all of 5’ 8” and 140 lbs, no growth hormones, steroids or specialty players. Known as a bit of a troublemaker with his good friend Dick Biella, they “safely” drove 100+ MPH down Baseline Road, locked the principal in his house by surrounding it with old lockers and set off M-80’s in front of the Boulder Court House, a time that let boys be boys as a step in their journey to manhood. Picking up hitchhikers was common practice, kept safe by his ability to quickly glean intentions from the look in their eye, eyes being the window to the soul, not background, religion, nationality. Joe invested directly in people, in private, doing right when no one was looking. His charity was quiet, direct, personable – intended to inspire, get over the hump, especially with children, who had a special place in his heart. Joe, always the deal maker, was able to squeeze two lives out of one – one laying tile, raising his family in Louisville, the second, ranching, farming and grandfather, enjoying the slice of heaven below the San Juan Mountain range. One of his greatest pleasures was seeing the daily change in the San Juans on his back patio, overlooking a farm he would never have imagined owning as a Depression-era miner’s son in a one room schoolhouse in Superior. 

Joe kept his life simple, in his control, being of a generation had the freedom to truly choose their destiny. An open canvas to paint a life and Joe’s was a masterpiece – colorful, meaningful, honorable, successful. Words were few and soft, his example, a deafening thunderclap. The man for time: a time, like the man, which we will never see again and are all lessor for it. Godspeed to a silent legend. 

Family members saw Joe as the loving husband, the playful dad, the demanding father, as the teasing grandfather, the supporting brother and uncle, but most of all, as the mentor. Joe continued to teach us, up to the moment the Good Lord called him home. Joseph is survived by his loving wife of 59 years Mary (Kurtz) Scriffiny. His four children will miss him deeply, Mark (Patricia) Scriffiny, Lisa (Matt) Goetsch, Kurt (Patricia) Scriffiny, and Paul (Becky) Scriffiny. His grandchildren, Luke, John, and Jacob (Mark), Kellen and Samantha (Lisa), Amy, Mae, and Sophia (Paul). 

Joseph was preceded in death by his first wife, Janice (Verlinden) Scriffiny, his wife of 11 months who passed shortly after Mark’s birth, his sister, Donna Sitz Arthun, his brother, James Scriffiny, and his parents Anthony and Linda Scriffiny. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 21st, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 1855 St. Mary’s Drive, Montrose, Colorado. Graveside services will be held in a separate private event for family. A reception will be held immediately afterwards at the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, we ask that memorials are sent to Mrs. Claus for a Cause (https://mrsclausforacause.org) or the Dolphin House (https://dolphinhousecolorado.org).