William John O’Brien, DVM, 11 Dec 1926 - 16 Feb 2023

O’BRIEN, SCHNIEDERS, SCHAUL, GELMAN, MCDERMOTT, LUENSMANN, BROGHAMMER, ECKSTEIN, BROGHAMMER

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 2/22/2023 at 15:12:24

William J. “John” O’Brien, DVM, 96, of Manchester, Iowa, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, February 18, 2023, with his family and his wonderful companion Molly the cat by his side. Visitation will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, February 23, 2023, at Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester. Mass of Resurrection will be held 11 a.m. Friday, February 24, 2023, at St. Mary Catholic Church Manchester, with the Reverend Gabriel Anderson officiating. Livestream of the Mass may be viewed at https://blessedtrinitycluster.com/livestream-mass. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Ryan, Iowa. Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.

John was born on December 11, 1926, in Ryan, Iowa, the son of Dr. and Mrs. W.S. O’Brien. He graduated from St. Thomas High School in St. Paul, Minnesota and then attended Loras College. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II and served in Germany. Upon honorable discharge he attended and graduated from ISU College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 1952. He practiced in Ryan and Manchester for 62 years. He enjoyed reading, music and crossword puzzles and was a lifetime member of the AVMA. One of his favorite authors was Dean Koontz who allowed him to use an excerpt from his book entitled “Breathless”. It is as follows and reflects his love and passion for animals. It was adapted personally by the author. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A VETERINARIAN: “A veterinary practice is not just a life with animals. It is a life of service to the innocent of the earth, to those who cannot lie because they cannot speak, who do not envy or covet or steal, who never betray and never take pleasure in the pain and despair of others, who do not enslave, brutalize and humiliate those weaker than they are.”

John is survived by his two daughters, Mary Chris O’Brien-Schnieders, DVM (Gary Schnieders) of Manchester, Lori (Rick) Schaul of Parnell, Iowa; his grandchildren, Emily, Eric (Shelby) , Christian (Sara Smith) Schnieders, Andy (Susan Gelman) Schaul and Jay Schaul; his sister of Dubuque, Sister Mary Damien O’Brien PBVM; and in-laws, Al (Margie) McDermott of Cascade, Iowa, Susie Luensmann of Delhi, Iowa; brother-in-law, Tony Broghammer of Manchester; along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by wife, Irene O’Brien; sister and her husband Imogene and Jack Eckstein, MD; brothers and sisters-in-law, Lila Luesmann, Mary Luensmann, David and Kathleen Luensman, Delrose Broghammer, and Robert Luensmann.

Memorials can be directed to the Manchester Public Library.

Please share a memory of John at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette on February 20, 2023.