O'BRIEN, EDWARD THOMAS
Date of Birth: 21 Dec 1905
Place of Birth: MINNESOTA
Mother Maiden Name: MONGUE
Date of Death: 20 Mar 1982
County of Death: CROW WING
certid# 1982-MN-005404
Services to be
held Wednesday
for Tom O'Brien
Services for Ed "Tom" O'Brien, former Brainerd mayor and prominent businessman who died Saturday at his home, will be held 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Catholic Church.
Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends may call at the Nelson-Doran Funeral Home from noon Tuesday until the time of services on Wednesday. A parish rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. John Chalberg of Brainerd, Sister Kathleen O'Brien, O.S.B. of Duluth, and Mrs. Ted (Alice) Ryan of Lakewood, Colo.
Mr. O'Brien was born and raised in Brainerd. He was active in many areas of business and community affairs having been twice mayor and first president of the Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce.
He operated the Brainerd Greenhouse and Gateway Electric in the 1930s. Mr. O'Brien was also the director of the Federal Census for 17 Minnesota counties in 1940; was field director for the American Red Cross during World War II, and served at Camp Wallace and Fort Hood, both in Texas.
Manager of the O'Brien Mercantile Co. from 1945 until sold to Ehler's in 1973, Mr. O'Brien was currently the head of O'Brien Properties and O'Brien Minerals. Another business interest was Background Music of Brainerd (MUZAK).
He founded KLIZ Radio in 1946 along with the late John Chalberg and the late William Graham.
Currently, Mr. O'Brien was a board member of the Crow Wing County Historical Society and Crow Wing County Development Corporation. He was a member of the Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce, Humane Society, Paul Bunyan Arboretum, Arts Alliance and St. Francis Church. He was still working with the University of Minnesota on its foreign visitor program and had hosted foreign visitors for the Department of State.
Mr. O'Brien was involved in the following community affairs: member of the Rotary since April of 1934 and president of that club in 1940 and later district governor from 1970-71, chairman of the Crow Wing County Chapter American Red Cross for several years and before that the Brainerd Branch of the Red Cross, head of the Community Relief Program for three years during the 1930s, member of the Brainerd School Board from 1936 to 1944 and served as president, was a former president of the Minnesota School Board Association and lobbyist for the public schools for two sessions of the Minnesota State Legislature, past chairman of the Brainerd Charter Commission, member of the county planning and zoning board until ordinances were adopted, organizer of the Brainerd Junior College and founder of the Newcomers Club, chairman of Brainerd's 75th and Centennial celebration, democratic nominee for Congress from the Sixth District in 1940, secretary and treasurer, board member and office manager during early years of the formation and construction of Crow Wing Cooperative Power and Light Co., past president of N. W. Merchants Association and past president of Minnesota Retail Federation, member of the first board of the Minnesota Arts Council and served under two governors, member of ad hoc committee on state's arts financing, member of the Upper Great Lakes commission, former board member of the College of St. Scholastica.
Held a lifetime membership in the Lake Region Humane Society.
The family would prefer memorials to the Paul Bunyan Arboretum, Crow Wing County Historical Society and to establish a scholarship in his name at Brainerd Community College. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 20 March 1982, p. 2, c. 1)
EDITORIAL
Tom O'Brien
There is an empty spot in the Brainerd community today. It came into being with the death of Tom O'Brien, a man whose name has been synonymous with that of this community.
What perhaps surprised a good many people is the fact that Tom O'Brien was 76 years of age. His energy, drive and involvement gave the impression of a much younger man.
His memory was phenomenal, his wit was quick and he was always on the go.
His first love in life was the city where he was born and to which he returned after receiving his education. His roots were deep here. His family launched business enterprises in Brainerd that trace back a century or more.
The cornerstone of that little business empire for years was O'Brien's Department Store. With it as a foundation, the family acquired other downtown and rural property which Tom managed as O'Brien Properties.
Tom O'Brien, a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Minnesota graduate school, also loved the arts. His interest in that field led to his appointment to the State Arts Board earlier in his life.
He was also interested in politics and twice was a DFL candidate for Congress. Even though he failed in those ventures, he remained a worker for the party and restricted his person politics to serving a term as mayor and as a member of a number of city committees and commissions.
Tom was also highly interested in education and served for eight years on the Brainerd School Board. He carried that interest all the way to the state level and became president of the Minnesota School Board Association.
Another of the loves of his life was Rotary. His playing of the piano as Wayne Huso led the singing were mainstays of every Tuesday meeting.
His memory was so acute that he not only knew every Rotarian by name, but the name of each member's wife as well.
The same was true of some of Brainerd's early families and their descendants. It was not unusual for the newspaper to receive a call from Tom when he learned of the death of a former resident. In his clipped, rapid-fire speech he would explain who the person was, what his or her roots were in the community and provide a list of other persons who would have more information.
Tom also had a deep interest in students from other lands who might be either studying or visiting in this country and opened his home to them on many occasions.
The empty spot he leaves in the community is a large one because he was such an integral part of it. It was just taken for granted that the gentleman with the erect, quick, jaunty walk and the precise, articulate manner of speaking would always be at certain events, involved in certain projects and just simply present in the community.
It will take a long time to adjust to the fact that he is no longer here. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 20 March 1982, p. 4, c. 1)
Date of Birth: 21 Dec 1905
Place of Birth: MINNESOTA
Mother Maiden Name: MONGUE
Date of Death: 20 Mar 1982
County of Death: CROW WING
certid# 1982-MN-005404
Services to be
held Wednesday
for Tom O'Brien
Services for Ed "Tom" O'Brien, former Brainerd mayor and prominent businessman who died Saturday at his home, will be held 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Catholic Church.
Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends may call at the Nelson-Doran Funeral Home from noon Tuesday until the time of services on Wednesday. A parish rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. John Chalberg of Brainerd, Sister Kathleen O'Brien, O.S.B. of Duluth, and Mrs. Ted (Alice) Ryan of Lakewood, Colo.
Mr. O'Brien was born and raised in Brainerd. He was active in many areas of business and community affairs having been twice mayor and first president of the Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce.
He operated the Brainerd Greenhouse and Gateway Electric in the 1930s. Mr. O'Brien was also the director of the Federal Census for 17 Minnesota counties in 1940; was field director for the American Red Cross during World War II, and served at Camp Wallace and Fort Hood, both in Texas.
Manager of the O'Brien Mercantile Co. from 1945 until sold to Ehler's in 1973, Mr. O'Brien was currently the head of O'Brien Properties and O'Brien Minerals. Another business interest was Background Music of Brainerd (MUZAK).
He founded KLIZ Radio in 1946 along with the late John Chalberg and the late William Graham.
Currently, Mr. O'Brien was a board member of the Crow Wing County Historical Society and Crow Wing County Development Corporation. He was a member of the Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce, Humane Society, Paul Bunyan Arboretum, Arts Alliance and St. Francis Church. He was still working with the University of Minnesota on its foreign visitor program and had hosted foreign visitors for the Department of State.
Mr. O'Brien was involved in the following community affairs: member of the Rotary since April of 1934 and president of that club in 1940 and later district governor from 1970-71, chairman of the Crow Wing County Chapter American Red Cross for several years and before that the Brainerd Branch of the Red Cross, head of the Community Relief Program for three years during the 1930s, member of the Brainerd School Board from 1936 to 1944 and served as president, was a former president of the Minnesota School Board Association and lobbyist for the public schools for two sessions of the Minnesota State Legislature, past chairman of the Brainerd Charter Commission, member of the county planning and zoning board until ordinances were adopted, organizer of the Brainerd Junior College and founder of the Newcomers Club, chairman of Brainerd's 75th and Centennial celebration, democratic nominee for Congress from the Sixth District in 1940, secretary and treasurer, board member and office manager during early years of the formation and construction of Crow Wing Cooperative Power and Light Co., past president of N. W. Merchants Association and past president of Minnesota Retail Federation, member of the first board of the Minnesota Arts Council and served under two governors, member of ad hoc committee on state's arts financing, member of the Upper Great Lakes commission, former board member of the College of St. Scholastica.
Held a lifetime membership in the Lake Region Humane Society.
The family would prefer memorials to the Paul Bunyan Arboretum, Crow Wing County Historical Society and to establish a scholarship in his name at Brainerd Community College. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 20 March 1982, p. 2, c. 1)
EDITORIAL
Tom O'Brien
There is an empty spot in the Brainerd community today. It came into being with the death of Tom O'Brien, a man whose name has been synonymous with that of this community.
What perhaps surprised a good many people is the fact that Tom O'Brien was 76 years of age. His energy, drive and involvement gave the impression of a much younger man.
His memory was phenomenal, his wit was quick and he was always on the go.
His first love in life was the city where he was born and to which he returned after receiving his education. His roots were deep here. His family launched business enterprises in Brainerd that trace back a century or more.
The cornerstone of that little business empire for years was O'Brien's Department Store. With it as a foundation, the family acquired other downtown and rural property which Tom managed as O'Brien Properties.
Tom O'Brien, a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Minnesota graduate school, also loved the arts. His interest in that field led to his appointment to the State Arts Board earlier in his life.
He was also interested in politics and twice was a DFL candidate for Congress. Even though he failed in those ventures, he remained a worker for the party and restricted his person politics to serving a term as mayor and as a member of a number of city committees and commissions.
Tom was also highly interested in education and served for eight years on the Brainerd School Board. He carried that interest all the way to the state level and became president of the Minnesota School Board Association.
Another of the loves of his life was Rotary. His playing of the piano as Wayne Huso led the singing were mainstays of every Tuesday meeting.
His memory was so acute that he not only knew every Rotarian by name, but the name of each member's wife as well.
The same was true of some of Brainerd's early families and their descendants. It was not unusual for the newspaper to receive a call from Tom when he learned of the death of a former resident. In his clipped, rapid-fire speech he would explain who the person was, what his or her roots were in the community and provide a list of other persons who would have more information.
Tom also had a deep interest in students from other lands who might be either studying or visiting in this country and opened his home to them on many occasions.
The empty spot he leaves in the community is a large one because he was such an integral part of it. It was just taken for granted that the gentleman with the erect, quick, jaunty walk and the precise, articulate manner of speaking would always be at certain events, involved in certain projects and just simply present in the community.
It will take a long time to adjust to the fact that he is no longer here. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 20 March 1982, p. 4, c. 1)
O'BRIEN, EDWARD THOMAS
Date of Birth: 21 Dec 1905
Place of Birth: MINNESOTA
Mother Maiden Name: MONGUE
Date of Death: 20 Mar 1982
County of Death: CROW WING
certid# 1982-MN-005404
Services to be
held Wednesday
for Tom O'Brien
Services for Ed "Tom" O'Brien, former Brainerd mayor and prominent businessman who died Saturday at his home, will be held 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Catholic Church.
Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends may call at the Nelson-Doran Funeral Home from noon Tuesday until the time of services on Wednesday. A parish rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. John Chalberg of Brainerd, Sister Kathleen O'Brien, O.S.B. of Duluth, and Mrs. Ted (Alice) Ryan of Lakewood, Colo.
Mr. O'Brien was born and raised in Brainerd. He was active in many areas of business and community affairs having been twice mayor and first president of the Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce.
He operated the Brainerd Greenhouse and Gateway Electric in the 1930s. Mr. O'Brien was also the director of the Federal Census for 17 Minnesota counties in 1940; was field director for the American Red Cross during World War II, and served at Camp Wallace and Fort Hood, both in Texas.
Manager of the O'Brien Mercantile Co. from 1945 until sold to Ehler's in 1973, Mr. O'Brien was currently the head of O'Brien Properties and O'Brien Minerals. Another business interest was Background Music of Brainerd (MUZAK).
He founded KLIZ Radio in 1946 along with the late John Chalberg and the late William Graham.
Currently, Mr. O'Brien was a board member of the Crow Wing County Historical Society and Crow Wing County Development Corporation. He was a member of the Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce, Humane Society, Paul Bunyan Arboretum, Arts Alliance and St. Francis Church. He was still working with the University of Minnesota on its foreign visitor program and had hosted foreign visitors for the Department of State.
Mr. O'Brien was involved in the following community affairs: member of the Rotary since April of 1934 and president of that club in 1940 and later district governor from 1970-71, chairman of the Crow Wing County Chapter American Red Cross for several years and before that the Brainerd Branch of the Red Cross, head of the Community Relief Program for three years during the 1930s, member of the Brainerd School Board from 1936 to 1944 and served as president, was a former president of the Minnesota School Board Association and lobbyist for the public schools for two sessions of the Minnesota State Legislature, past chairman of the Brainerd Charter Commission, member of the county planning and zoning board until ordinances were adopted, organizer of the Brainerd Junior College and founder of the Newcomers Club, chairman of Brainerd's 75th and Centennial celebration, democratic nominee for Congress from the Sixth District in 1940, secretary and treasurer, board member and office manager during early years of the formation and construction of Crow Wing Cooperative Power and Light Co., past president of N. W. Merchants Association and past president of Minnesota Retail Federation, member of the first board of the Minnesota Arts Council and served under two governors, member of ad hoc committee on state's arts financing, member of the Upper Great Lakes commission, former board member of the College of St. Scholastica.
Held a lifetime membership in the Lake Region Humane Society.
The family would prefer memorials to the Paul Bunyan Arboretum, Crow Wing County Historical Society and to establish a scholarship in his name at Brainerd Community College. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 20 March 1982, p. 2, c. 1)
EDITORIAL
Tom O'Brien
There is an empty spot in the Brainerd community today. It came into being with the death of Tom O'Brien, a man whose name has been synonymous with that of this community.
What perhaps surprised a good many people is the fact that Tom O'Brien was 76 years of age. His energy, drive and involvement gave the impression of a much younger man.
His memory was phenomenal, his wit was quick and he was always on the go.
His first love in life was the city where he was born and to which he returned after receiving his education. His roots were deep here. His family launched business enterprises in Brainerd that trace back a century or more.
The cornerstone of that little business empire for years was O'Brien's Department Store. With it as a foundation, the family acquired other downtown and rural property which Tom managed as O'Brien Properties.
Tom O'Brien, a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Minnesota graduate school, also loved the arts. His interest in that field led to his appointment to the State Arts Board earlier in his life.
He was also interested in politics and twice was a DFL candidate for Congress. Even though he failed in those ventures, he remained a worker for the party and restricted his person politics to serving a term as mayor and as a member of a number of city committees and commissions.
Tom was also highly interested in education and served for eight years on the Brainerd School Board. He carried that interest all the way to the state level and became president of the Minnesota School Board Association.
Another of the loves of his life was Rotary. His playing of the piano as Wayne Huso led the singing were mainstays of every Tuesday meeting.
His memory was so acute that he not only knew every Rotarian by name, but the name of each member's wife as well.
The same was true of some of Brainerd's early families and their descendants. It was not unusual for the newspaper to receive a call from Tom when he learned of the death of a former resident. In his clipped, rapid-fire speech he would explain who the person was, what his or her roots were in the community and provide a list of other persons who would have more information.
Tom also had a deep interest in students from other lands who might be either studying or visiting in this country and opened his home to them on many occasions.
The empty spot he leaves in the community is a large one because he was such an integral part of it. It was just taken for granted that the gentleman with the erect, quick, jaunty walk and the precise, articulate manner of speaking would always be at certain events, involved in certain projects and just simply present in the community.
It will take a long time to adjust to the fact that he is no longer here. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 20 March 1982, p. 4, c. 1)
Date of Birth: 21 Dec 1905
Place of Birth: MINNESOTA
Mother Maiden Name: MONGUE
Date of Death: 20 Mar 1982
County of Death: CROW WING
certid# 1982-MN-005404
Services to be
held Wednesday
for Tom O'Brien
Services for Ed "Tom" O'Brien, former Brainerd mayor and prominent businessman who died Saturday at his home, will be held 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Catholic Church.
Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends may call at the Nelson-Doran Funeral Home from noon Tuesday until the time of services on Wednesday. A parish rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. John Chalberg of Brainerd, Sister Kathleen O'Brien, O.S.B. of Duluth, and Mrs. Ted (Alice) Ryan of Lakewood, Colo.
Mr. O'Brien was born and raised in Brainerd. He was active in many areas of business and community affairs having been twice mayor and first president of the Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce.
He operated the Brainerd Greenhouse and Gateway Electric in the 1930s. Mr. O'Brien was also the director of the Federal Census for 17 Minnesota counties in 1940; was field director for the American Red Cross during World War II, and served at Camp Wallace and Fort Hood, both in Texas.
Manager of the O'Brien Mercantile Co. from 1945 until sold to Ehler's in 1973, Mr. O'Brien was currently the head of O'Brien Properties and O'Brien Minerals. Another business interest was Background Music of Brainerd (MUZAK).
He founded KLIZ Radio in 1946 along with the late John Chalberg and the late William Graham.
Currently, Mr. O'Brien was a board member of the Crow Wing County Historical Society and Crow Wing County Development Corporation. He was a member of the Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce, Humane Society, Paul Bunyan Arboretum, Arts Alliance and St. Francis Church. He was still working with the University of Minnesota on its foreign visitor program and had hosted foreign visitors for the Department of State.
Mr. O'Brien was involved in the following community affairs: member of the Rotary since April of 1934 and president of that club in 1940 and later district governor from 1970-71, chairman of the Crow Wing County Chapter American Red Cross for several years and before that the Brainerd Branch of the Red Cross, head of the Community Relief Program for three years during the 1930s, member of the Brainerd School Board from 1936 to 1944 and served as president, was a former president of the Minnesota School Board Association and lobbyist for the public schools for two sessions of the Minnesota State Legislature, past chairman of the Brainerd Charter Commission, member of the county planning and zoning board until ordinances were adopted, organizer of the Brainerd Junior College and founder of the Newcomers Club, chairman of Brainerd's 75th and Centennial celebration, democratic nominee for Congress from the Sixth District in 1940, secretary and treasurer, board member and office manager during early years of the formation and construction of Crow Wing Cooperative Power and Light Co., past president of N. W. Merchants Association and past president of Minnesota Retail Federation, member of the first board of the Minnesota Arts Council and served under two governors, member of ad hoc committee on state's arts financing, member of the Upper Great Lakes commission, former board member of the College of St. Scholastica.
Held a lifetime membership in the Lake Region Humane Society.
The family would prefer memorials to the Paul Bunyan Arboretum, Crow Wing County Historical Society and to establish a scholarship in his name at Brainerd Community College. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 20 March 1982, p. 2, c. 1)
EDITORIAL
Tom O'Brien
There is an empty spot in the Brainerd community today. It came into being with the death of Tom O'Brien, a man whose name has been synonymous with that of this community.
What perhaps surprised a good many people is the fact that Tom O'Brien was 76 years of age. His energy, drive and involvement gave the impression of a much younger man.
His memory was phenomenal, his wit was quick and he was always on the go.
His first love in life was the city where he was born and to which he returned after receiving his education. His roots were deep here. His family launched business enterprises in Brainerd that trace back a century or more.
The cornerstone of that little business empire for years was O'Brien's Department Store. With it as a foundation, the family acquired other downtown and rural property which Tom managed as O'Brien Properties.
Tom O'Brien, a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Minnesota graduate school, also loved the arts. His interest in that field led to his appointment to the State Arts Board earlier in his life.
He was also interested in politics and twice was a DFL candidate for Congress. Even though he failed in those ventures, he remained a worker for the party and restricted his person politics to serving a term as mayor and as a member of a number of city committees and commissions.
Tom was also highly interested in education and served for eight years on the Brainerd School Board. He carried that interest all the way to the state level and became president of the Minnesota School Board Association.
Another of the loves of his life was Rotary. His playing of the piano as Wayne Huso led the singing were mainstays of every Tuesday meeting.
His memory was so acute that he not only knew every Rotarian by name, but the name of each member's wife as well.
The same was true of some of Brainerd's early families and their descendants. It was not unusual for the newspaper to receive a call from Tom when he learned of the death of a former resident. In his clipped, rapid-fire speech he would explain who the person was, what his or her roots were in the community and provide a list of other persons who would have more information.
Tom also had a deep interest in students from other lands who might be either studying or visiting in this country and opened his home to them on many occasions.
The empty spot he leaves in the community is a large one because he was such an integral part of it. It was just taken for granted that the gentleman with the erect, quick, jaunty walk and the precise, articulate manner of speaking would always be at certain events, involved in certain projects and just simply present in the community.
It will take a long time to adjust to the fact that he is no longer here. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 20 March 1982, p. 4, c. 1)
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