Obit: O’Brien, Richard (1939 - 2013)

Contact: Audrey Roedl
Email: audero@charter.net

Surnames: O’Brien, Boyer, Kroening, Schellinger, Kittle

----Source: The Loyal TRG (Loyal, Clark County, WI) 16 Jan 2013

O’Brien, Richard (20 Sept. 1935-12 Jan. 2013)

Richard A. “Dick” O’Brien, 73, Spencer, passed away on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 12, 2013, at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital,, Marshfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 7 p.m., on Thursday, Jan. 27, at Christ the King Catholic Church, Spencer. Rev. Jesse Burish will officiate. Committal services will be held privately at a later date. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until the time of services on Thursday at the church in Spencer. The American Legion Post #54 of Marshfield will provide military honors at the church following the services. Pallbearers will be Joel Schellinger, Randy Kaiser, Andrew O’Brien, Jim Kittel and Joey Kittel. Honorary pallbearers are George O’Brien and Shawn O’Brien.

Richard O’Brien was born on Sept. 20, 1939, in Colby, the son of James and Lila (nee Boyer) O’Brien. He attended Taft’s Country School in Clark County and later St. Mary’s Parochial School, in Colby, finishing his education at Loyal High School. On March 3, 1958, Dick entered the United States Marine Corp and proudly served his country until his discharge on March 2, 1961. After his honorable discharge, he returned to the area and married Jewell Kroening in the chapel at St. John’s Catholic Church, Marshfield, on June 2, 1962. His employment included driving thousands of miles over the road as an owner/operator in trucking along with driving for various area trucking companies. Prior to his retirement due to health conditions, Dick had been working part-time at Mid-State Truck in Marshfield. His interests included fishing, camping and just sitting on the deck watching the birds. Dick and Jewell were foster parents for more than 40 years and helped more than 100 children. He was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church, Spencer and the American Legion Post #54, Marshfield.

Survivors include his wife, Jewell, Spencer; five children, Theresa (Joel) Schellinger, West Bend, Mike (Tracy) O’Brien, Chili, Andrew O’Brien, Marshfield, GySgt Jim (Kayla) Kittel, Patuxent River, Md., and Joey Kittel, Marshfield; five grandchildren,; his siblings, Kap (Herbert) Rueth, Parma, Idaho, James O’brien, Spencer, Wayne (Nancy) O’Brien, Marshfield, Pat (Bill) Lindner, Greenwood, Ronald (Kay) O’Brien, Marshfield and Becky O’Brien, Madison; and other relatives, friends and comrades.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Lila O’Brien; and a granddaughter, Amanda Schellinger.