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James E. O'Brien
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James E. O'Brien was born November 5, 1923 in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, to Charles and Loretta O'Brien. He passed away on Tuesday, December 19, 2007 at the Syverson Lutheran Home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
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Jim attended Fond Du Lac schools and was a proud graduate from Fond Du Lac High School in 1941. He joined the Army after graduation and served in the infantry the European theater during World War II. Jim was wounded December 16, 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge, was awarded a Purple Heart, and received his honorable discharge. |
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In 1947, while attending Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jim met and married Mary Marcella Flannery. He worked at various jobs during the next few years including sorting mail at the post office and driving a taxi cab while attending college. Jim earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette in 1959. He served as an efficiency expert at Globe Union and as a safety expert for the Cornell Paper Company. Cornell Paper received national recognition for consecutive days without a serious accident during his tenure. He then pursued his true passion, health, by becoming a Registered Sanitarian for the City of Milwaukee Health Department and serving the City in that capacity for over 20 years, inspecting everything from restaurants to gas pumps and gauges. Jim retired from his position in 1986.
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A life long and practicing Catholic, Jim was also an active and long-time member of the Order of the Masons in Milwaukee. His other interests included outdoor sports such as skiing, hiking, travel, golf ; and voracious reading and learning until the very end. He was relentless in his pursuit of peace, justice, ethics and the truth. He enjoyed music and activities such as creating and producing colorful lapel buttons with his own button making machine. Jim was also an avid collector of the State Quarters, purchasing uncirculated quarters from the U.S. Mint each time a state quarter was issued and saving them in quarter display boards for each family member and many friends and their children. Quarters were accompanied by his tutorial of the state being honored. In addition, Jim loved to host family parties on holidays, planning the menu and preparing the food with love and great gusto. He participated as a boy scout volunteer, a choir member of various churches and traveled to Rome and Ireland with church groups. Representing the O'Brien clan at the head of the table at Bunratty Castle and a humorous exchange with Pope John Paul at the Vatican are two of his fondest memories.
In late January, 2007, Jim moved to Eau Claire and became a resident of Syverson Lutheran Home. He had many happy months there and engaged the staff and residents in button making and quarter collecting. In July, 2007, at Jim's urging, He along with family members, friends and nursing home staff, planned and hosted his Living Irish Wake at the Syverson Home. The theme was peace and reconciliation, as this was of primary importance to Jim. A smashing success, the event opened with An American Legion Color Guard and bugler who, at Jim's request, played taps to begin the program and slid into"The St. Louis Blues". Following were bountiful food and drink, music by Leanna Rasar of the UW-Eau Claire music therapy department, Harp by Solare Quinn, Ragtime by piano player Jim Radloff and sing-along led by Jo Rudrud.
The wonderful staff of Syverson provided Jim with a loving and nurturing family of caretakers who graced Jim and family with superb care, friendliness, humor and warmth. Words are inadequate to convey the family's gratitude to the Syverson staff, chaplaincy, volunteers, Music Therapy students and instructors and St Joseph's Hospice for gracing the family with such a rich, healing and spiritually rewarding end of life experience. Jim's last year of life was quite possibly his best!
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Leonard and Fr. Claude; sisters Jean and Eunice and his daughter, Maureen (O'Brien) Weaver. Surviving Jim are his two sons, Damian J. and Christopher P. O'Brien of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and his grandson, Terry Weaver of Altoona, Wisconsin.
A memorial service for Jim will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 1:00 pm at the Meta Trebus Memorial Chapel of the Syverson Lutheran Home, 816 Porter Avenue, Eau Claire. Pastor Debra Boynton presiding. A memorial service will be held for Jim in Milwaukee at a later date. Fuller Speckien Hulke Funeral Home, 3209 Rudolph Rd., Eau Claire is assisting the family with the arrangements. Friends and family may offer condolences online at www.fullerspeckien.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to:
Syverson Home
C/O Randy Rennock on Behalf of James O'Brien
816 Porter Ave
Eau Claire WI 54701
or:
Eau Claire Veteran's for Peace
C/o Gaylord Oppegard
1926 Bellevue Ave
Eau Claire WI 54703
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