08/23/2000
Funeral services for Howard L. O'Brien, 63, of Knoxville, who died on Wednesday,
August 23, 2000, at the Knoxville Area Community Hospital, was held on Saturday,
August 26, at the Apostolic Church in Knoxville. Pastor Timothy Burk officiated
at the services.
Interment was at the Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. Military
honors were accorded by BatyTucker Post 168, American Legion and John Myers Post
3519, VFW. Casketbearers were Alan Smith, Mike Sage, Eric Hines, Dan Bacon, Chuck
Keenan and Marion Burk.
Howard was born on January 30, 1937 in Pershing, the son
of Walter "Rusty" and Frances Mae Douglas O'Brien. He was raised by his grandparents,
Clark and Goldia Cecil.
Howard married Sandra Kae Mohler on April 5, 1962. From
this union, five children were born. Later, on August 25, 1980, he married
Linda Sue Roland. From this union, four children were born.
He retired in 1972 after
serving with the United States Navy for 22 years. While stationed in Great Lakes,
Ill., he served as a trauma nurse at St. Theresa's Hospital in Waukegan, Ill. He
later received his Iowa Nurses License and worked at Knoxville Rest Home where he
was Director of Nursing for six years.
In 1988 he went to work for Van Gorp Manufacturing
in Pella, and retired in 1997. He also worked for the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce
operating a booth at the races. He was an avid sprint car fan.
Howard is survived
by nine children, Patricia Thomas of Knoxville, Paige O'Brien of Oskaloosa, Howard,
Jr. and Shawn, both of Knoxville, Royal Ullrick of Rose Hill, Melissa Sayre of Lompoc,
Calif., and Chad Hines, Eric Hines and Patrick O'Brien, all of Knoxville; 16 grandchildren;
two sisters, Colleen Dailey of Knoxville and Janice Israel Anderson of Kenosha,
Wis.; and many other relatives and friends. Memorials may be made to the Knoxville
Rescue Unit and the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Arrangements were made by
Evans-McCleery Funeral Home.