O'Brien, Ralph M.

Ralph M. O'Brien, 74, of Cedar Rapids, died at Cottage Grove Place on Monday, July 9, 2012, after a long illness. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The Rev. Christopher Podhajsky will officiate. Burial with military rites at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday where there will be a vigil service at 5 p.m. and at the church after 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Survivors include his wife, Jo Ann; two daughters, Kelly (Bob) Collier of Austin, Minn. and Patty (Dick) Parr of Cedar Rapids; and two brothers, Dale (Pat) of Shelby, Mont. and Ken (Maxine) of Kalispell, Mont.

He is also survived by four grandchildren, Daniel, Kathleen, Rachel and Anna.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Ralph was born on July 1, 1938, in Saco, Mont., the son of Eddie and Anna Malmin O'Brien. He graduated from the University of Montana in 1960 and attended graduate school in Minnesota. He married Jo Ann M. Sullivan on June 19, 1965, in Morton, Minn. Ralph worked for the University of Minnesota in their investment department for two years, later in the investment department at Mutual of Omaha as well as the investment department at State Bond and Mortgage in New Ulm, Minn. He retired in 2001 from Life Investors (AEGON) as an investment manager after 30 years of service. Ralph was a faithful member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and proudly served in the Army in Okinawa, Japan.

Since his retirement, Ralph had been an avid investor, sitting at his desk from the opening bell until the closing bell, enjoyed traveling in his younger years and spending time with his beloved family especially his grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established.

Please leave a message or tribute to Ralph's family on the Web page, under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette July 11, 2012.