Donald G. O'Brien

Donald G. O'Brien, age 87 of Belle Plaine died on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. He was born on February 3, 1929 in Belle Plaine to John E and Catherine (Shea) O'Brien. He attended country schools and graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1947. He was a specialist airplane engine mechanic in the U. S. Air Force serving from January, 1951 until October of 1954 and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana where he met his wife, Mary Jane Cascio and they were married on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1953. They moved back to Minnesota where he worked for 13 years for the Chicago-NW Railroad and then with his brothers at O'Brien Plumbing and Heating. Don retired in 1992. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling and was a Golden Glove Boxer. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane. Children, Kathleen (Michael) Doran of Prior Lake, Connie (Lyle) Straub of LeSueur, Mary Pat (Todd) Derner of Belle Plaine, Donald Jr, (Shelley) O'Brien of Credit River, Kellie (Dean) Jansen of Shakopee, James (Jessica) O'Brien of LeSueur, Gregory O'Brien of Belle Plaine, Camille (Michael) Erdmann of Shakopee, Patrick (Linda) O'Brien and Jennifer (Todd) Kahlow of Belle Plaine. 21 Grandchildren and 14 Great-grandchildren as well as siblings, Tom (Therese) O'Brien, Kevin O'Brien, Keiran (Diane) O'Brien, Mary Catherine (Charles) Buley, Joe (Bernice) O'Brien, Colleen ( Gene) Sathre and Geraldine Latterell. Donald was preceded in death by parents, Siblings, Mary Theresa, William, Jack, Gerald, Finton, Francis and other family and friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church in Belle Plaine, with interment with Military Honors by the Belle Plaine Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine on Tuesday with a Veterans Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue on Wednesday at the church prior to the funeral mass. Koldenfuneralhome.com

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