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Sunday, December 12, 2021
Dennis O'Brien
Age: 77
City: Marion
Funeral Date
Spring 2022
Funeral Home
Murdoch Funeral Homes & Cremation Service
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Dennis O'Brien
DENNIS R. O'BRIEN
Marion
Dennis R. O'Brien, 77, of Marion, Iowa, passed away Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, at Bickford of Marion. A family burial service is being planned for Spring of 2022, at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Sanborn, N.D.
Dennis was born Sept. 15, 1944, on the family farm in Eckelson, N.D., the son of Joseph and Augusta (Mortenson) O'Brien. He grew up in the Valley City, N.D. area, where he graduated from St. Catherine Catholic High School. He served honorably in the Army National Guard. On Aug. 31, 1968, Dennis was united in marriage to Janet J. Widmer in Jamestown, N.D. For 41 years, he worked for CenturyLink Telephone Co. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, retiring in 2011. Dennis was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion. Dennis' hobby of metal detecting took him and Janet to many competitions, both local and out of state.
Dennis is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 53 years, Janet O'Brien of Marion; son, Jeremy O'Brien (Shauna Lorenzo-Rivero) of Chattanooga, Tenn.; brothers, James O'Brien of Fargo, N.D., Dale (Carolyn) O'Brien of Gilbert, Ariz., and Lloyd O'Brien of Westchester, Ill.; sisters, Lillian (Edward) Moug of Mesa, Ariz., and Mary Emke of Ankeny, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Augusta O'Brien; brothers, Lawrence at infancy, Joseph Jr., Francis, Maurice, Charles, Earl and Louis O'Brien; and sisters, Alice Widmer and Lucy Lockwood.
The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to all the staff at both Bickford of Marion and St. Croix Hospice for the care and support they gave to Dennis.
Please share a memory of Dennis at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

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