Raymond J. O'Brien 12 Jan. 1909 - 24 Mar. 2005

OBRIEN, BARRY, MCGRORY, MONEYPENNY

Posted By: Netha M Meyer (email)
Date: 3/30/2005 at 09:53:43

Raymond Joseph O'Brien, 96, died Thursday morning, March 24, 2005, in English Valley Care Center, North English, following a sudden illness. Mass of Christian burial: 10:30 a.m. Monday, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Parnell, by Father Pat Lumsden. Burial: St. Joseph's Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday and after 9 a.m. Monday at the church, with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Sunday.
A memorial fund has been established. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include a son, Edward "Eddie" O'Brien and wife Jean of Parnell; a daughter, Mary Jane O'Brien of Milwaukee, Wis.; five grandchildren, Katie O'Brien and fiance Freddie Chapman of Piedmont, Ga., John and Molly O'Brien of Parnell and Eric and Aaron Johnson of Milwaukee, Wis.; and nieces, nephews and countless friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Nelle, on Oct. 24, 1981; two brothers, Robert and Bert; and a sister, Agnes Moneypenny.
Raymond Joseph O'Brien was born Jan. 12, 1909, in Cosgrove, the son of James and Mary Barry O'Brien. He moved to the farm a mile east of Parnell in 1920, which he later purchased in 1941. He graduated from Parnell High School in 1927 and he married Nelle McGrory on Feb. 20, 1939, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Brooklyn.
He followed in his father's footsteps and farmed alongside his brothers for many years. He gained a reputation as a breeder of fine Angus cattle. He served on the Parnell School Board for 12 years, was instrumental in establishing the ASCS office in Williamsburg and assisted with many church projects at St. Joseph's, where he was a member since 1920.

Cedar Rapids Gazette
26 March 2005
Edition: F Page: 4B
IRecord Number: 1488970