Eugene F. O'Brien

Born in Decorah, Iowa on February 15, 1922
Departed on August 19, 2010. Resided in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Memorial

Eugene F. “Gene” O’Brien, 88, of 1100 25th St. NE, died Thursday, August 19, 2010 with lung cancer at the Hospice House of Mercy. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, August 23, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, with Father David Beckman officiating. Burial will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post #727. Friends may call from 4 until 7 PM on Sunday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories where a scripture service begins at 6:30 PM. In addition friends may call Monday at the church after 9:30 AM.

Survivors include his wife Frances “Fran”, three daughters, Carol Crawford, Dallas, Texas; Patricia Kelly and husband Terry, Lake Worth, Fla.; and Ruthann Hadish and husband Gregg, Ames, Iowa; five grandchildren Jesse, David and Rebecca Kelly and Johnny and Paul Hadish. Also surviving are one brother, Stephen O’Brien, Dubuque and four sisters; Mary Fischer, Clutier; Marcella Rooney, Decorah; Loretta Orris, Cedar Rapids and Rose Frana, Calmar, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, Frances Marie in 1955, daughter Sally in 2006 and two brothers, Robert and Leonard O’Brien.

Gene was born February 15, 1922 in Decorah, Iowa to Frank and Elizabeth (Carolan) O’Brien. He attended St. Benedict’s grade school in Decorah, and Immaculate Conception High School in Lansing, Iowa. In 1941 he enlisted in the Navy and served six years active duty and four years in the Navy Reserve. During WWII he spent three years in the South Pacific Fleet.

On August 28, 1950 he married Frances Frana at Spillville, Iowa. He went to college on the GI Bill and graduated from Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska in 1951 and was promptly recalled for 15 months of stateside duty during the Korean War. In 1952 he was employed by Collins Radio, later Rockwell Collins, in various accounting and finance areas for 35 years, retiring in 1988. He was a member of the National Accounting Association for many years.

Gene was a member of St. Matthews Church since 1952 where he sang in the Men’s Choir for over 30 years. He also served as an usher and helped with many funeral dinners. He was a member of the Rockwell Recreation Center where he exercised daily for 22 years. He and his wife of 60 years were involved in Marriage Encounter for over 25 years.

Gene loved his daughters, grandchildren and son-in-laws and was proud of their various and many accomplishments. The men in his cribbage and breakfast groups were special to him. He was a handicraftsman who designed and made many of the Early American furniture pieces in their home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Hospice House of Mercy or Camp Courageous.

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