O'BRIEN, Alphild Leona (Pladsen) 1912-2001

HUNSTAD, PLADSEN, OBRIEN, TUBERTY, KIESAU, ADAMS, RANDEL, REHDER, COOK

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 12/15/2007 at 12:44:02

ALPHILD L. O'BRIEN

Alphild L. O'Brien, 88, of Waukon, died Tues., Jan. 30, 2001, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon following a brief illness. Funeral services were held Fri., Feb. 2, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Alphild Leona Pladsen O'Brien was born July 16, 1912, on the LaFayette Township, rural Harpers Ferry farm of her parents, Theodore and Oline (Hunstad) Pladsen. She was baptized and confirmed at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, attended the rural Allamakee County Prairie elementary school, and graduated from Waterville High School in 1930, where she was captain of the girls basketball team. She attended Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls and received her teaching certificate. Alphild taught at several rural Allamakee County schools.

On July 30, 1938, she married Kenneth O'Brien at First Congregational Church in Waterloo. Together, they farmed in Ludlow Township of Allamakee County for 38 years before moving to Waukon in 1978.

Alphild was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where she belonged to the Ladies Circle, taught Sunday school, lead Bethel Bible study, and served on various other committees. She was also a member of International Toastmistress Club, Browning Club, Allamakee County Historical Society, Northgate Care Center Care Review Committee, and served as a floriculture judge for many years at the Allamakee County Fair.

She enjoyed raising and arranging flowers, playing cards, working puzzles, sports of all kinds, and attending various community events. She was especially fond of times spent together with her family.

Alphild is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kenneth; four sisters, Rosella Tuberty, Agnes Pladsen, Carrol Kiesau, and Valborg Adams; and three brothers, Joseph, Wallace, and Melvin Pladsen.

Survivors include two daughters, Colleen (Dr. Ronald) Randel of Overton, TX, and Patricia (Dennis) Rehder of Des Moines; one son, Dr. Daniel (Elizabeth) O'Brien of Springfield, IL; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a sister, Mavis Cook of Waukon; and many nieces and nephews.

Honorary casketbearers were Wayne Duvel, Ray Odegard, Truman Wurtzel, Ben Quillin, Don Todd, Sue Blagsvedt, Elaine Tuchel, Christine Murphy, Joanna Pladsen, and Rosella Caldwell.

Casketbearers were Bill Blagsvedt, Steve Kiesau, Roger Pladsen, John Pladsen, Larry O'Brien, and Cletus Pladsen.

Martin Funeral Home of Waukon assisted the family.

Waukon Standard or Postville Herald
Leader, February 7, 2001
Submitter has no further information.

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Another newspaper clipping of the obituary of Alphild O'Brien includes the following note:

PLEASE NOTE
Alphild O'Brien and Carol Kiesau, whose obituaries appear above, were in fact, sisters. Furthermore, though not twins with each other, each was one of two sets of twins born to Theodore and Oline Pladsen. Both women died Jan. 30 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Alphild passed away at approximately 3 p.m.; Carol died later that evening. Thus the reason that each are listed in the other's obituary under "preceding in death".