Margie N. O’Brien Sept. 8, 1928 - Sept. 12, 2024
Margie Nell (Olson) O’Brien, 96, of Elkader, died peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, at the Kingston Court Assisted Living in Elkader. She was born Sept. 8, 1928, in rural St. Olaf, to Millard and Valdene (Wettleson) Olson. She was baptized and confirmed at the Norway Lutheran Church near St. Olaf.
Margie was educated in rural St. Olaf and completed high school at Postville High School, graduating in 1946.
She married Edwin O’Brien, and 10 children were born to this union. They farmed in Clayton County. Margie enjoyed music, cooking, baking and being a home maker and “safety officer for the boys.” She was a quiet, humble, hard worker, taking care of her family and home and helping Edwin as she could. Margie definitely was the backbone of the family. She will be remembered for her baked breads and buns fresh from the oven when the kids arrived home on the bus from school. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and always made sure she had fresh baked goods when they came to visit.
Margie was a 50-year member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Clermont. In her younger years, she was very active in church circles, working at various events and always checking to make sure that things were getting done and ready! Margie worked at Swiss Valley Farms in St. Olaf for 18 years.
Surviving are her children, Dennis O’Brien of Kailua, Hawaii, Terry (Mary) O’Brien of Rockford, Ill., Steve (Barb) O’Brien of Asbury, James (Dawn) O’Brien of Parkville, Mo., Jeff (Leanne) O’Brien of Cedar Rapids, Lori (Joe) King of Eagleton, Wis., Greg (Sandra) O’Brien of Decorah, Randy O’Brien of Virginia Beach, Va., David O’Brien of New York, N.Y. and Michael O’Brien of Clermont; grandchildren Carriee, Jason, Paul, Brian, Travis, Eryn, Emily, Brandon, Jordan, Brittany, Nicole, Alan, Sean, Molly, Megan, Nicole, Travis and Ashley; and 25 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Millard and Valdene; husband, Edwin; brother, Clifton; a daughter-in-law, Mary Rose; and granddaughter Kristy.
The family would like to thank Kingston Court assisted living facility and especially the staff for the kind and compassionate care, with a special thanks to Madison and Kaitlin.
Visitation and Mass of Resurrection were Sept. 16, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Elkader, with Rev. John Haugen as celebrant. Inurnment was at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Elkader.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elkader is assisting the family.