Patrick Timothy O'Brien 1891-1950

OBRIEN, HAND, JACKSON, BRENNAN

Posted By: B. Hand (email)
Date: 10/26/2008 at 16:15:53

From The Emmetsburg Democrat July 27, 1950

Large Crowd At Last Rites For Tim O'Brien

St. Thomas church was filled to overflowing with relatives, friends, business associates and acquaintances at 9:30 Wednesday morning when funeral services were held for P.T. (Timmy) O'Brien, 59, retired Emmetsburg business man, who died at the local hospital Monday morning after a heart attack. The Rev. C. E. Farrelly, pastor, officiated at the last rites.
Pallbearers were Vic Hand, Gerald Hand, John Brennan, Ed Jackson, Roland Jackson of Spencer and Donald O'Brien. Burial was in St. John's cemetery with the Martin Funeral home in charge of the arrangements.

Patrick Timothy O'Brien was born on St. Patrick's Day in 1891, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John O'Brien, early residents of Great Oak township. He attended rural schools in that township and later as a young man, secured a position as a car salesman at the Sam Rozen garage. He traveled in this capacity during the next few years and he was known by his customers for his affable, friendly manner and his business efficiency.

On Sept. 25, 1914, he married Miss Margaret "Maggie" Hand at Borup, Minn. The newlyweds came to Emmetsburg soon after their marriage and made their home here. Mr. O'Brien became interested in the restaurant business and after resigning his position at the Rozen garage he bought the O'Brien Sandwich shop (now Hand's Sandwich shop) which he operated for many years. Here too, he was known and liked by his many customers.
He became a friend of his younger patrons and he sensed a need for more teenage recreation facilities here. A few months later he built the O'Brien Skating rink (now known as the Jackson rink) which he managed until he retired because of failing health.

When the O'Brien’s were a young couple they took Mr. O'Brien's nephew, Jack Jackson, then a two year old into their home and raised him as their own son. Later when Jack's children began to talk they called Mr. O'Brien, "Grandpa Timmy". Frequently he could be seen with one or more of his six small grandchildren, one of whom was named after him. Sometimes when the two Timmys were mentioned in a family conversation it was necessary to use "Big Timmy" and "Little Timmy" in order to designate which one was being discussed.

Two years ago Mr. O'Brien retired. But although he had to curtail some of his activities because of a heart condition he kept up his fraternal contacts. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and the Emmetsburg Fire Department. And he was a familiar figure on Emmetsburg streets. He and his wife were unusually congenial and were rarely apart. Only last week they went to Chicago with Mr. and Mrs. James Jones and attended the All Star baseball game, Timmy being an avid baseball fan.

Last Sunday he attended church as usual and spent the rest of the day quietly. When he woke up Monday morning he complained of feeling ill and a short time later he was taken to the local hospital. Mr. O'Brien died at 11 o'clock, only five hours after being stricken.

He leaves his wife, his adopted son, Jack Jackson, six grandchildren and a brother, William T. O'Brien of Des Plaines, Ill., whom Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien visited only last week.

Out of town relatives and friends at the rites included: Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien, Des Plaines, Ill., Miss Margaret Jackson, Oak Park, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. John Hand, Mahnomen, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Hand and sons Carl and Leland, Borup, Minn., Mrs. Eleanor Graham, Wallace and Kay Schultz, Detroit Lakes, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Earl Fries and family, Superior, Mr. and Mrs. John Collins and Miss Augusta Buttemore, West Bend.