Lt Col. James Joseph O'Brien United States Army, Retired

Lt Col James J O'Brien United States Army, Retired was born on April 14, 1930 in Lynn, MA. He was the son of the late Gertrude and James O'Brien. He served 26 years in the Army Signal Corps, serving in the Korean and Vietnam wars and receiving many honors. James retired in Hawaii, the home of his late wife Agnes, and later his and his family's home in 1973. After his retirement he went on to work for the State of Hawaii as its Chief of the Child Support Enforcement Agency for 10 years.

Col O'Brien was lucky enough to have three tours in Hawaii so that his three children, Sandra, James, and Patrick could experience a real sense of home and family although like all military families they moved often. He loved Hawaii from the moment he first moved there in 1956, and always had many friends he played handball and golf with. His next favorite thing to do with his friends was to tell tall tales, bad jokes, and to drink coffee at McDonald's every morning.

Col O'Brien is predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Agnes, who passed away in 2012. He never got over missing her.

When his children moved to Texas and Iowa he knew it was time to say aloha to his beloved Hawaii. He and Agnes moved to the Army Retirement Community in San Antonio in 2001 and never looked back. The move enabled them to spend so much quality time with their grandchildren that they never regretted the move.

He is survived by his daughter Sandra, son James and his wife Jana, and son Patrick and his wife Christine who love him very much, as well as six grandchildren who were the light of his life, Serina, Sidney, Lance, Thomas, Nainoa, and Kylee. In addition he is survived by his sister Rita Edmands and his brother Tom and his wife Barbara. He loved being the world’s greatest "Uncle Jim", to all his nieces and nephews in South Carolina and in Hawaii.

James J. O'Brien was a good man who came from nothing and ended with so much. He had amazing careers, a strong and loving wife, and children who knew their father for the good man he was. His grandchildren love him as he was always a kind and loving Grandpa. He was the life of the party and loved being around people. Although he was a big man he was a fantastic dancer as was his late wife Agnes. They continued to clear dance floors with their fabulous dancing well into their 70's.

He will be missed forever by all who loved him.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Friday, June 6, 2014 at 9:00 A.M. at the Army Residence Community Chapel. Interment with full military honors will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:45 P.M.