Ambrose Joseph O’Brien died Friday, January 18, 2008
at his home west of Protivin after a lengthly age related illness. He was 82
years of age.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday,
January 22, 2008 at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin. Rev.
David Beckman will officiate. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 3 p.m until 8 p.m. on Monday at the Conway Funeral
Home in Protivin, with a Scripture service at 5 p.m and a Knights of Columbus
Rosary at 7 p.m. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to
services on Tuesday at the funeral home.
Ambrose Joseph
O’Brien was born on November 1, 1925 in Howard County, Iowa, the son of David P.
and Ellen “Nellie” (Sweeney) O’Brien. He attended the rural school near his home
and went to Lourdes for High School. His father died when he was four years of
age and following his education, he helped on the family farm.
On April 6, 1945 he entered the US Army at Camp Walters, TX. He spent a year in
the occupation of Japan, held rank of Tec 5. He was transferred from Rifleman
Infantry to Medics in Japan. He was a Chaplain’s assistant to Father Michael
O’Brien. On December 6, 1946 he was discharged and returned home to farming.
Ambrose spent some time working on a farm in North Dakota and also working at Rath Packing Plant, but farming was his life and he returned to Howard County.
On June 25, 1951, Ambrose was united in marriage to Irene
Praska at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin by Rev. J.S. Skluzacek. After
their marriage, Ambrose worked on a farm near Harmony for about five years. In
1956 they moved to their farm in Chickasaw County, west of Protivin, where he
died. In addition to farming, Amby worked as a Community Action Outreach
supervisor for Chickasaw County, and also ran the North East Council on
Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (NECASA) in Chickasaw County for nearly eight years. He was a
faithful member of AA for 36 years, the American Legion Post #605 and the
Protivin Council of the Knights of Columbus.
Amby liked to hunt and fish, he was an avid reader, was an extreme Cubs fan and
loved to discuss politics, and was truly the best grandfather ever. His
grandchildren meant everything to him. Ambrose was active in his church, he
lectored and was a Eucharist Minister, he was a former religious education
teacher, volunteered at the Holy Trinity School and was a former school board
member.
Ambrose is survived by his wife, Irene; his children:
Michael of Ames, IA, Pamela (Thomas) Stokes of Zion, IL, Daniel (Kimberly) of
Ridgeway, IA, Sheila (Dale) Rassman of Calmar, IA, Kathleen (Loren) Liddle of
Tripoli, IA, Eileen (Keith) Denner of West Des Moines, IA, and Robyn (Stan)
Sorenson of Gurnee, IL; his grandchildren: Deon and Aaron Scott; Rochelle
O’Brien, Jill (Peter) Grubbs, Kara (Charles) Crain; Jason, Tami, Jeffrey, Adam
and Carrie Jo Rassman; David, Justin and Ryan Liddle; his step grandchildren:
Isaiah, Aamin, and Asjia Stokes; Matthew and Timothy Denner, Joshua Sorenson
and Sara Venhorst; his great grandchildren: Kaley Scott, Noah and Samuel
Grubbs; and a step great grandchild: Sabrina Venhorst.
Preceding Amby in death were his parents; one sister, Madonna
Fitzgerald in 1953 and one brother, James O’Brien in 1981.