Eugene Edward "Gene" O'Brien, 71, of Denver, Colorado, and formerly of Parsons, Kansas, died at 4:30 a.m., Sunday, May 31, 2015 at Lutheran Hospice in Denver.
He was born June 3, 1943, in Girard, Kansas to Joseph A. and Mary Cleo (Duling) O'Brien. He grew up on a farm east of St Paul and graduated from St Paul High School in 1961. On January 18, 1964, he married Sue Johnston. They later divorced.
Gene was a co-owner of the O'Brien Rock Company and later O'Brien Ready Mix. He was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1999 through 2002 serving District 7. In 2002, he moved to Denver, Colorado where he married Leticia Quintana. While living in Denver, Gene remained active in the Democratic Party and enjoyed spending time with his step-grandson, Jacob. He also enjoyed creating stained glass art, woodworking and traveling. He loved discovering historical facts and telling stories about O'Brien history.
He is survived by his wife Lety O'Brien of Denver, CO; daughter Elizabeth (Libby) and husband Michael Brader of Claremore, OK; son Edward E. and wife Kristen O'Brien of Asbury, MO; five grandchildren, Denton Brader of Wichita, KS, Kenzie Brader of Claremore, OK, Colin, Stuart, and Lauren O'Brien of Asbury, MO; two great-grand daughters Kobie and Kaydin Brader of Claremore, OK; six brothers, Owen O'Brien and his wife Jean, St. Paul, Jay O'Brien and his wife Mauricia, St. Paul, Bob O'Brien and his wife Patty, Chetopa, Lou O'Brien and his wife Karen, Altamont, Dennis O'Brien and his wife Marilyn, Parsons, and Martin O'Brien and his wife Vicki, St. Paul; seven sisters, Jolene Born and her husband Ed, St. Paul, Margaret O'Toole and her husband Jim, Girard, Rose Mary Debler, Alma, KS, Julia Peter and her husband Dave, Chanute, Virginia Heere and her husband Rick, Lawrence, Elizabeth Holt and her husband Jeff, Eagle River, AK and Lou Ann Fike and her husband Dennis, Westmoreland, KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Felix O'Brien.
The rosary will be prayed at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, June 14, 2015 at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends immediately following the rosary, from 3:30-4:30 p.m., at the funeral home. The funeral Mass was on Monday, June 8, 2015 at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Denver.
Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick's School Endowment Fund or the Labette County 4-H Horse Club. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eugene "Gene" O'Brien, please visit our flower store.
He was born June 3, 1943, in Girard, Kansas to Joseph A. and Mary Cleo (Duling) O'Brien. He grew up on a farm east of St Paul and graduated from St Paul High School in 1961. On January 18, 1964, he married Sue Johnston. They later divorced.
Gene was a co-owner of the O'Brien Rock Company and later O'Brien Ready Mix. He was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1999 through 2002 serving District 7. In 2002, he moved to Denver, Colorado where he married Leticia Quintana. While living in Denver, Gene remained active in the Democratic Party and enjoyed spending time with his step-grandson, Jacob. He also enjoyed creating stained glass art, woodworking and traveling. He loved discovering historical facts and telling stories about O'Brien history.
He is survived by his wife Lety O'Brien of Denver, CO; daughter Elizabeth (Libby) and husband Michael Brader of Claremore, OK; son Edward E. and wife Kristen O'Brien of Asbury, MO; five grandchildren, Denton Brader of Wichita, KS, Kenzie Brader of Claremore, OK, Colin, Stuart, and Lauren O'Brien of Asbury, MO; two great-grand daughters Kobie and Kaydin Brader of Claremore, OK; six brothers, Owen O'Brien and his wife Jean, St. Paul, Jay O'Brien and his wife Mauricia, St. Paul, Bob O'Brien and his wife Patty, Chetopa, Lou O'Brien and his wife Karen, Altamont, Dennis O'Brien and his wife Marilyn, Parsons, and Martin O'Brien and his wife Vicki, St. Paul; seven sisters, Jolene Born and her husband Ed, St. Paul, Margaret O'Toole and her husband Jim, Girard, Rose Mary Debler, Alma, KS, Julia Peter and her husband Dave, Chanute, Virginia Heere and her husband Rick, Lawrence, Elizabeth Holt and her husband Jeff, Eagle River, AK and Lou Ann Fike and her husband Dennis, Westmoreland, KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Felix O'Brien.
The rosary will be prayed at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, June 14, 2015 at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends immediately following the rosary, from 3:30-4:30 p.m., at the funeral home. The funeral Mass was on Monday, June 8, 2015 at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Denver.
Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick's School Endowment Fund or the Labette County 4-H Horse Club. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eugene "Gene" O'Brien, please visit our flower store.
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