O’Brien, Robert Joseph (1929-2018)

O’BRIEN, TOOMEY, CHAYKA, JACKSON, HALL, NASYPANY, LORBER, MORGENSTERN, JANNEY, AIKEN, SCOTT

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 5/18/2021 at 17:36:23

Robert Joseph O'Brien
December 8, 1929 - August 17, 2018

Robert Joseph O’Brien, 88, passed away on Friday, August 17, 2018, with his loving wife of 64 years and children by his side.

Bob was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on December 8, 1929, to Michael and Myrtle Toomey O’Brien. Following his graduation from Trinity High School in Sioux City in 1948, he joined the Navy, serving one year on active duty and five years in the reserves. In 1953, he earned a B.A. in Biology from St. Ambrose College. Next, he worked for Nestle’s and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals before joining Armour & Company. In 1966, he went to work for Iowa Beef Packers in Denison and was named plant manager there in 1967. In 1983, he became the plant manager of the IBP pork plant in Storm Lake. He retired from IBP in 1999 as an assistant vice president and general manager.

Bob married the love of his life, Nella Chayka, on June 19, 1954, in Sioux City at St. Boniface Church. After moving several times, they, eventually, settled in Schleswig, Iowa, where they raised their many children. Schleswig became such an important home for the O’Briens in February 1967 after their son, Kevin, was killed in an accident. The support and love the townspeople showed the O’Briens proved they were indeed “home.” In 1983, with a move to Storm Lake, a new adventure for began Bob and Nella. Now “empty nesters,” they found a new family in Storm Lake. Known for giving their time and energy to community activities, Bob and Nella supported local businesses and attended all sporting events for St. Mary’s Catholic, Storm Lake High School, and Buena Vista University. Feeling honored, they were asked to serve as Grand Marshalls of the Storm Lake High School Homecoming Parade. In addition, Bob served on numerous committees for advancing the causes of local students and his church, St. Mary’s Catholic. He took pride in his part in starting the S.O.S. store in 2005. This store helps with tuition assistance for those who attend St. Mary’s schools, one of his proudest accomplishments. He felt so honored to work with all the wonderful people who made this project happen. Moreover, as a proud 3rd Degree Member of St. Mary's Council, he joined the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Rosati Assembly 272 in 2008.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Nella; his children: Bob, Jr.; Kathleen, and her children: Matt (Angela), Kelli (Matt), Kyle, and Nathan (Caitlin); Timothy, his wife, Julie, and their children: Stephanie (Brad), Brett (Aynsley) and Erin (Nick); Patrick, his wife, Sherri, and their children: Ian (Amanda) and Molli (Tyler); Colleen (O’Brien) Jackson, her husband, Mark, and their son, Christgen; Maureen (O’Brien) Hall, her husband, Ron, and his nine beautiful great-grandchildren; his sister, Shiuvaun (O’Brien) Nasypany, and her husband, Ray; his sisters-in-law, Gladys, Doris, and Mary O’Brien and Irma Lorber, and her husband, Chuck; and his brother-in-law, Leon Morgenstern; as well as his many loved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Kevin; his brothers: Don, Mike, Jack, Phil, and Tom; his sister, Patty; his sisters-in-law, Carol Morgenstern, Alice Janney, and Ruth O’Brien; and his brother-in-law, Albert Aiken; as well as by his nephews, Danny Morgenstern and Danny O’Brien; and his niece, Nora Aiken Scott.

A funeral mass will be offered on Thursday, August 23, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow at 3:00 p.m. in Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, August 22, 2018, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a rosary at 4:30 p.m. and a vigil service at 7:30 p.m., all at the church. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the S.O.S. store in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is overseeing the arrangements.

Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes, Storm Lake, Iowa, 2018.

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