Leon J. O'Brien

Wednesday, January 14, 2004

LINCOLN -- Leon J. O'Brien, 68, of Cambridge, died Saturday (Jan. 10, 2004) at LGH East Hospital in Lincoln.

He was born north of Cambridge in Furnas County to Joseph and Sophia (Brinkman) O'Brien. He grew up on the farm and attended school in Cambridge. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1953.

On. July 26, 1956, he married Carolyn Michals in Cambridge. The couple farmed around the Cambridge area. In 1982, he went to work for the Cambridge Co-op transporting fuel to local farmers. He retired from the Co-op in 2001. He began working at the Cross Creek Golf Course as groundskeeper.

He was a member of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Cambridge and was active with the Cambridge Senior Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother, Richard James.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn of Cambridge; four daughters, Kathy and husband, Jary Schulte of Doniphan, Colleen and husband, Bent Ballou of Wilsonville, Mary and husband, Doug of Wilsonville and Cindy Garniss-Alverado of Shelton; three sisters, Helen and husband, Willard Moore of Mesa, Ariz., Mildred and husband, Chuck Suiter of Lincoln and Ann Marie and husband, Bob Treble of Louisville, Ky.; one brother, Bob and wife, Sandi O'Brien of Grand Island; and 11 grandchildren.

Mass of Christian burial is Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert Barnhill officiating. Interment will be in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Cambridge.

The rosary will be recited Tuesday, 7 p.m., at Lockenour-Jones Mortuary.

Memorials may be left in his name to the Cambridge Senior Center or St. John's Catholic Church.

Lockenour-Jones Mortuary of Cambridge is in charge of the arrangements.