Kathleen O'Brien

Hales Corners, Wisconsin -- Kathleen (Kathy) O'Brien (nee Kelly) passed away December 5, 2024 at age 88 after a prolonged illness with Parkinson's Disease. She was born in Iron River, Michigan August 20, 1936, the daughter of Martin Kelly and Jessie Kelly (nee Decker). She was predeceased by her parents and an older sister, Patricia (Pat) Polewski. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Dave O'Brien, daughter Constance (Connie) Anderson, and sons Kelly and John (Jack) O'Brien. She is further survived by grandsons Adrian O'Brien and David Anderson; granddaughters Jessie Olin, Cory Borkowski, Alex O'Brien, and Sarah O'Brien; and three great-grandchildren.

Kathy graduated from Iron River High School, then attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to earn an L.S.A. degree with a major in English and minors in French and Spanish. Upon graduation she taught for one year in White Cloud, Michigan.

In June 1959 she married Dave, whom she had met at University of Michigan, and joined him in Willingboro, New Jersey, where he was employed as an aerospace engineer. That's where their children were born. They moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1963, where Dave had obtained a better position. In 1969 Allis-Chalmers Corporation offered Dave a supervisory position in the Milwaukee area, and the family moved to their home in Hales Corners. When A-C abruptly left the aerospace business in 1969, the family decided not to move again.

Kathy had enrolled the kids in Whitnall School System and became a member of St. Mary Parish. After assisting Dave in starting a small local business, she busied herself in education and the developing local community. She studied Library Science at Alverno College, then earned a master's degree in Education at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. She was employed as Librarian at Forest Park Middle School in nearby Franklin, and taught English and other languages until retiring 23 years later.

She was an avid reader of murder mysteries. Her collateral interest in literature, community, and local history led to her joining and/or actively serving many organizations including: St. Mary Parish (where she served as plant sale coordinator and lector), St. Mary Cub Scout Pack #530, Hales Corners Bicentennial Committee, Friends of Hales Corners Library, Hales Corners Historical Society (as a charter member), Hales Corners Historical Preservation Commission, Fourth Wednesday Book Club, Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA), Florence Crittenton Home, Southwest Interfaith, Repairers of the Breach, and Lifelong Learning Institute, which later became Clement Manor Center for Enrichment (CFE).


Although personal recognition was not important to Kathy, two very prestigious awards were presented to her. In 2004 she received the Paul Harris Fellow award from the Rotary foundation for her contributions to its humanitarian and educational programs. Then in 2006, Kathy and Dave were honored together with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Village of Hales Corners for their involvement in many civic and community projects.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Faith Community, 9520 W. Forest Home Avenue, Hales Corners, WI, with Fr. Aaron Laskiewicz officiating. Family and friends may gather directly there from 9:30 a.m. until the time of mass. Lunch will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hales Corners Historical Society, 5885 S. 116th St., Hales Corners, WI 53130; a group dear to her heart, and one she was instrumental in developing.