He was born Oct. 3, 1927 in Peoria to Thomas and Josephine (Schmitt) O’Brien. He married Nadine Mundy on June 5, 1948 in Peoria. She passed away Oct. 6, 2000 in Peoria. He was also preceded in death by his parents, one son, Kevin O’Brien, three brothers: Joe, Bill, Irish O’Brien, and three sisters: Mary O’Brien, Kay O’Brien, and Margaret Sams.
Survivors include his children: Timothy (Donna) O’Brien of Peoria, Thomas (Kris) O’Brien of Peoria, Terrance (Linda) O’Brien of Bartonville, Susan O’Brien of Peoria, and Colleen (Barry) Salerno of Edwards. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Shannon (Jim) Tyre, Lindsay (Pat) Archer, Kevin (Bernadette) O’Brien, Carrie (Mike) Garrett, Cathy (Ben) Russell, Lacey (Jack) Pritz, John, Jimmy and Joey Salerno, Jared (Aubrey) and Mike O’Brien, and 14 great-grandchildren.
Jim was a lifelong Peoria resident. He graduated from Spalding Institute and was a WWII Navy Veteran.
He has been the president of O’Brien Bros., Inc. for the last 42 years. He was a member of the Steamfitters Local 353 for over 70 years, past president of the Tri-County Contractors Assn, Chairman of Joint Apprentice & Training Steamfitters Local 353, founding member of the PALM & Tri-Con, and a past member of the United Way.
The family would like to thank Nancy Mielke for being with Jim and taking care of him for these past 11 years.
A Funeral Mass will be Friday, April 5, 2019 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kickapoo. Fr. Joseph Dondanville will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at church on Friday. Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria is in charge of arrangements.
Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery in Peoria.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or the Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.
You may view Jim’s obituary online at www.woolsey-wilton.com
