John O'Brien

John “Jack” Thomas O’Brien, age 86, of Webster, WI, passed away on Saturday, February, 27, 2016 at his residence. Jack was born on February 5, 1930 in Minneapolis, MN to parents William and Georgia (Hopkins) O’Brien. The youngest of nine children, Jack was raised in Webster on the family farm and graduated from Webster High School in 1947. After high school, Jack was employed by Johnson Control in Minneapolis until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1948 and served in the Korean War. Shortly after his honorary discharge on September 4, 1951, Jack met LaVonne Neumann. Jack and LaVonne were united in marriage on May 1, 1954 at Ascension Catholic Church in Minneapolis. Jack, with his wife, Lavonne, and four of their children, returned to the Webster area in 1961 and had three more children. Jack started building their current home and finished the project in 1962, and have spent the last 54 years together in the home. Over the years, Jack continued working in the building trade as a pipe fitter in MN and WI, until his retirement in 1990. Jack was very proud of his work in the Pipe Fitters Union local 539 and has remained a member for the last sixty-four years. Jack had a produce and livestock farm in Webster. He would plant up to 10,000 tomato plants and was known locally for his corn and produce. The year 2016 marked 39 years of sobriety for Jack. He was extremely proud of his commitment and remained very active with the A.A. Fellowship and sponsored many young recovering adults. Jack was very gifted mechanically. He devised log splitters, chain saw starters for those who had shoulder injuries, toe nail clippers for seniors who couldn’t bend over and a tracked wheel chair that could climb stairs. Jack was a generous and humble man. He was a giver who never expected anything in return and an optimist who always saw the best in people. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him and always remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, and a good neighbor. Preceding Jack in death are his parents; siblings: George, Francis, Jim, Katherine, Margaret, Lawrence, Donald and Mary Doris. Jack is survived by his wife of 62 years, LaVonne; sister-in-law, Elaine O’Brien; children: Susan (Larry) Mattson, Mary (Bob) Herman, Thomas (Becky) O’Brien, Teresa (David) Childers, Bob (Heather) O’Brien, Timothy M. (Vikki) O’Brien and Michael Gerard O’Brien; grandchildren: Deb (Anthony), Sue, Travis (Amy), Ben (Ashley), Kelley (Bob), Stefani, Rachel, Bobbi Jo, Rylee, Kelly, Walter (Casey), Amy Jo, Tylyn, John, Julie, Carla, Janine and Larry; great-grandchildren: Jackson, Lyla, Molly, Lucy, Tristan, Brooks, Brandonn, Dalton, Cameron and Seth; and many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Visitation for Jack will be held from 5:00-7:00pm (prayer service 7:00pm) on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at the Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Webster. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 11:00am (visitation from 10:00-11:00am) at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Webster with Father Michael J. Tupa officiating. Interment with full military honors will immediately follow the service at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers are Thomas O’Brien, Bob O’Brien, Tim O’Brien, Mike O’Brien, Bob Herman and Dave Childers. Honorary Pallbearers are: Travis O’Brien, John O’Brien, Walt Childers, and Benjamin O’Brien.