Gerene “Geri” O’Brien

Gerene “Geri” O’Brien

Monticello

Gerene “Geri” O’Brien passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening, July 15, 2025, at the Accura Care Center in Cascade, Iowa. She was 92 and had more energy than most people half her age.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Goettsch Funeral Home in Monticello. Deacon Joseph Schockemoehl will officiate. Interment will take place in the Cascade Cemetery at a later date. Friends and family are invited to a visitation on Monday evening, July 21, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Goettsch Funeral Home.

Geri was born on October 3, 1932, in Placid, Iowa, the daughter of James and Alberta (Mahon) Casey. She graduated from St. Martin Catholic School in 1950 and married John P. O’Brien and while farmed in the rural Cascade area.

She later moved to Monticello, where she became a beloved face at the Heights Supper Club and several other local restaurants. Geri had the kind of charm and sass that made everyone feel at home, even if you hadn’t ordered yet.

She is survived by her nine children: Michael (Julia) O’Brien, Vicky (Phil) Sweeney, Cindy O’Brien, Terry O’Brien, Kate (Terry) Gravel, David (Sue) O’Brien, John O’Brien, William (Rebecca) O’Brien, and Michelle and Troy; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and her siblings: Dell Casey, Pat (Sharon) Casey, Chuck (Donna) Casey, and Cherri Wessels. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Timothy (1971) and Daniel (1981), and siblings Venita, Duanne, Glen, John, Krista, and Kayla.

Geri was fiercely proud of her Irish heritage, she never missed a chance to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in full spirit. She loved America, never turned down a good game of Bingo, and was known to try her luck with scratch-offs and the casino now and then. She grew the most beautiful flowers and loved to give them away to brighten someone’s day. Her garden was her happy place, and the county fair was her time to shine with her entries.

She had a zest for life and a passion for travel, taking memorable trips to Ireland, Germany, and Yugoslavia. But her favorite thing in the world was time spent with her family and friends, whether around the dinner table, out in the yard, or anywhere laughter could be found.

To know Geri was to love her. She had a quick wit, a big heart, and a laugh that could lift your spirits in an instant. She will be deeply missed, but her light, her stories, and her stubborn Irish spark will live on in all of us.