Patrick Stephen O'Brien

Patrick Stephen O’Brien, beloved husband, son, brother, friend, mentor, and neighbor died unexpectedly on July 13, 2021. He was born April 19, 1967 in Williamston, Michigan and was the second of four children. He regularly tormented his three sisters growing up and forced them to listen to classic rock every morning getting ready for school. He was a member of the Most Excellent Graduating Class of 1985 from Williamston High School who regularly keep in contact, especially through Facebook.

After graduation, Pat worked for GLS Heating and Air in Williamston. He started as an electrical apprentice in 1992 and joined IBEW Local 665 in 1994. Since 1995, he worked for Superior Electric on jobs throughout the area and mentored many apprentices. Pat was well known and valued for his leadership. He set a standard in taking pride in the union and a job well done.

Pat was passionate about many things, but never held a grudge. Easygoing and caring, he was loved by his family, friends, neighbors, customers, owners, and any one he met. He was a great storyteller and one of the funniest people you would ever meet. With his adventurous spirit, he was great with kids especially his nieces, Meredith, Claire, Jenna, Ellie, and Laney.

Pat enjoyed numerous outdoor activities including fishing and hunting, especially with his dogs. Most often, however, he was out helping friends and family having installed countless furnaces and air conditioners and repairing cars, homes, etc. Pat’s mechanical skills led him to enter local demolition derbies in Williamston and Mason. Pat gave of himself and the chronicle of his life does not capture how big his life was, the people and communities he cared for, or the impact he had on them. It does not include how often he smiled and laughed; how he took time to meet everyone and enjoyed seeing you when your paths crossed again; and it does not describe the security that having Pat O’Brien in your life gave you. His passing leaves an unfillable void.

Those left to remember him are his wife, Lorna (Mitrowski); his parents Timothy (Julia) O’Brien and Barbara (Hollis) Mieras; his sisters Tracy (Dave Poirier) O’Brien; Jennifer (Tony) Linzmeier; and Katy (Erik) Jallad; brothers-in-law Dennis Mitrowski, Laurence (Pat) Mitrowski, Matt (Kelli) Mitrowski, and Andrew (Cindy) Mitrowski; and sisters-in-law Bethany (Jim) Burch and Margie Moranski; his aunts and uncles Don (Darlene) Hollis and Ellen (Don) Boring; cousins Kim (Blaine) Litteral, Timothy (Kara) Boring, Stephen (Michelle) Boring, and Michael (Catie) Boring; and many other young family members who will miss their Uncle Pat. He was preceded in death by his sister-in-law Dee Mitrowski; grandparents, Nella and Howard O’Brien and Clifton and Alma Hollis; uncle, Jack O’Brien; and cousin, Craig Hollis.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 19 at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 205 East Middle Street, Williamston, MI. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 20. at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service. Pallbearers will be Michael Boring, Stephen Boring (honorary), Timothy Boring, Don Hollis (honorary), Todd Meredith, Randy Miles, William Risch, and Ken Schmuecker. The funeral will be livestreamed. The link will be available just prior to the service on the funeral home website.

Memorial contributions in Pat’s name may be directed to: the Williamston Food Bank (http://www.williamstonfoodbank.org/), or the Ingham County Animal Shelter (http://icasfund.org/).