O'Brien, The Rev. Monsignor Joseph V.

The Rev. Monsignor Joseph V. O'Brien, 80, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, died on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2011, at Stone Hill Care Center in Dubuque. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Saint Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque, with the Most Rev. Jerome Hanus OSB officiating and the Rev. Monsignor Wayne A. Ressler as homilist. A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Saint Raphael's Cathedral, with a Scripture wake service at 7 p.m. by the Rev. Monsignor John McClean. Visitation also will be from 9 a.m. Wednesday until the time of Mass. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at Saint Patrick's Cemetery in Monti, Iowa. The Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd., Dubuque, is in charge of arrangements.

Father O'Brien was the third of five children born to Louis and Rose (Burke) O'Brien. He attended Pleasant Valley country school for eight years and Coggon High School for two years. He then attended and graduated from Loras Academy in Dubuque in 1948. He continued at Loras College from 1948 until 1951 and then at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo., graduating in 1953. Father did his theological studies at Mount Saint Bernard Seminary in Dubuque and was ordained to the priesthood by Most Rev. Leo Binz, Archbishop of Dubuque, on Feb. 2, 1957, at St. Raphael's Cathedral.

Father O'Brien's was as assistant pastor at Saint Edward's Parish in Waterloo in 1957. In 1960, he was assigned to Nativity Parish in Dubuque. In 1966, he was assigned to be the director of Vocations and Seminarians for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. He served as administrator for Saint Joseph on the Prairie and Holy Family New Melleray from 1970 to 1971 and about this time he was appointed as the spiritual director of the Cursillo Movement and served as Vicar for Religious. In 1976, he was named pastor of Saint Donatus Parish in Saint Donatus. In 1977, He was named as pastor of Saint Patrick's in Anamosa. From 1982 until 1993, he served as pastor of Saint Pius X Parish in Cedar Rapids. In 1993, he was appointed rector of Saint Raphael's Cathedral, where he served until his retirement in 2002. During his assignment at the Cathedral he also served as dean of the Dubuque Deanery. He spent the first year of his retirement in Mount Vernon before moving to the Villa Raphael in Dubuque.

Father O'Brien was very proud of his Irish heritage, something that was enhanced by his youth in the little country parish of Saint Patrick's in Monti. He visited Ireland several times and once studied Scripture at Trinity University in Dublin. He enjoyed speaking and his dry Irish wit served him well as he became an accomplished homilist.

He was an avid golfer and played as often as he could.

Father O'Brien is survived by two brothers, Jim O'Brien of Manchester and Don (Bernita) O'Brien of Marshalltown; 15 nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Father was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Robert O'Brien; a sister, Patricia Green; a brother-in-law, Richard “Butch” Green; and a sister-in-law, Rosie O'Brien.

Memorials may be given to Saint Raphael's Cathedral.

Published Dec. 26, 2011, in The Gazette