O’Brien, Wayne F. – 1924-2012

BISHOP, BREHENY, CASHMAN, COOK, COX, O’BRIEN, POWELL, REIGHARD, RICHTER, SPAIN, WALTZ, WHETSTONE

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/19/2024 at 17:29:35

Wayne F. O'Brien, 87, of Adair, Iowa formerly of Menlo passed away February 27, 2012 at the Stuart Community Care Center. A funeral mass will be held 10 a.m. Friday, March 2, 2012, at All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 1 at the church where a rosary/wake service will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Burial will follow the services at Rose Hill Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to All Saints Catholic Church and/or St. John's Catholic Church in care of Johnson Family Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Stuart, Iowa 50250. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Wayne was born April 25, 1924, in rural Adair County, Iowa, to John A. and Anna Spain O'Brien. He attended rural grade school in Adair County and Menlo High School. Wayne enlisted in the United Sates Navy during World War II and then served aboard the USS Samuel S. Miles and the USS Gordonia as a Motor Machinist's Mate. Wayne was honorably discharged on December 19, 1945, and following his discharge, he returned to Menlo.
Wayne was united in marriage to Harriet Reighard, on January 30, 1942. There were five children born to this union, Linda, Denny, John, Jayne and Julie. Harriet preceded him in death on January 17, 1985. In 1959, Wayne started O'Brien Plumbing, Heating and Electric, and continued in this business until 1997. He served for 16 years as a Guthrie County Supervisor. Wayne was united in marriage to Phyllis Richter, on December 6, 1986, and together they made their home in Adair. He was a member of both, the All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart and St. John's Catholic Church in Adair, Knights of Columbus, and Menlo American Legion Post 511. Wayne was a friend to all and enjoyed helping anyone in need. On many occasions he would take the local residents of the Adair Care Center to their Doctor appointments or just for a drive around town. He also enjoyed spending quality time with his family and especially his grandchildren, playing golf, cards and dancing.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Harriet, and two sisters, Elizabeth Waltz and Mary Cook.
Wayne leaves behind to cherish his memory, his beloved wife, Phyllis O'Brien of Adair; children, Linda Cashman of West Des Moines, Denny O'Brien of Cary, North Carolina, John (Cathy) O'Brien of Ankeny, Jayne (Mark) Whetstone of Menlo, and Julie O'Brien of Aurora, Colorado; step children, David (Abby) Richter of Adair, Rick (Lynn) Richter of Casey, Mark (Cindy) Richter of Adair and Terry (Bev) Richter of Carroll; eleven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; eleven step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; siblings, Martina Breheny of Stuart, Rita Bishop of Des Moines, Teresa Powell of Menlo, Rose Cox of Des Moines, and John O'Brien of West Des Moines and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends all of whom will miss him greatly.
Published in Des Moines (IA) Register; Thursday, March 1, 2012, page 5B