Thomas J. O'Brien

SIOUX CIT | Thomas J. "Tom" O'Brien, 81 of Sioux City, IA died Friday, April 26, 2013 at his residence after a long illness. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at St. Boniface Catholic Church with Rev. Michael Erpelding officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery with military graveside rites. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Monday with the family present 6-8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Tom was born May 18, 1931 in Chicago, IL the son of Jerome and Geneva (Striegel) O'Brien, Sr. The family moved to Sioux City in 1937 and he graduated from Trinity High School in 1949. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict in Korea. Tom started working for Standard Bearing in 1953 and worked there for 55 years until his retirement in 2008. On Sept. 11, 1954 he married Maxine R. Goeden in Sioux City. Together they raised four sons and two daughters. Tom was a longtime active member of St. Boniface Church where he served on the parish council, the school board and ushered for many years. He was also a member of the 3rd degree Knights of Columbus. Tom enjoyed golfing and had the fine achievement of making two holes in one. He was a thirteen plus gallon blood donor and lived a life of sobriety for the past forty years. Survivors include his wife, Maxine; six children, Linda Burris and her husband Craig, Daniel O'Brien, Jeffrey O'Brien, Douglas O'Brien, Maureen O'Brien and Patrick O'Brien all of Sioux City; two granddaughters, Emily Ainsworth and her husband Corey of Omaha, NE and Elen O'Brien of Sioux City; a great-grandson, Carter Ainsworth; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Jerome O'Brien, Jr.