In Memory of Thomas L. O'Brien

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church, of Battle Creek, Iowa. The Reverend Kevin J. Freese will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Battle Cree, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa.  The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Battle Creek, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com 

Thomas Leland O’Brien was born on June 19, 1934 to William Henry Thomas and Marvel Inez (Nichols) O’Brien. He was dedicated as an infant and then baptized into his faith in 1954 at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa.

Thomas attended schools in: Sioux City, Iowa, Allen, Nebraska and Sioux Center, Iowa. On June 27, 1954 Thomas was united into marriage to Jeannette Tolstedt. The couple briefly lived in California until settling down and making their home in Battle Creek, Iowa. Tom owned a business for several years.  Later on Tom was employed as a salesman for Con Agra; a manager for a Coop; and worked at Terra in Mapleton, Iowa. Tom most recently worked as the Weed Commissioner for Ida County, which he retired from in 1992.

In his free time he enjoyed hunting & fishing with his son Tom and grandchildren, camping, daily coffee with the guys, watching football, motorcycle riding with friends, golfing, playing baseball & softball, and was an excellent dancer.  In his younger years, Tom was an outstanding pitcher who was offered to play with the White Sox. 

Tom was always the first one to offer to help others when needed. He served on the Battle Creek Ambulance for many years.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Jeannette O’Brien of Battle Creek, Iowa; children, Tom O’Brien of Battle Creek, Iowa and Cheryl (Marc) Van Houten of Battle Creek, Iowa; grandchildren, Tonya Sohm and fiancé Larry Hein, Kaylinn  Schlender, Trisha (Jeremiah) Kruckenberg, Kandi (Drew) Stanford, Tara O’Brien, Kris Van Houten, Tate (Kathy) Van Houten, and Hope (Tyler) Bleckwehl; great- grandchildren, Brady Schlender, Kelsey Schlender, Bryce Schlender, Tyler Sohm, Zane Sohm, Brennen Sohm, Trey Kruckenberg, Shalea Kruckenberg, Brynlee Stanford. Camryn Van Houten, Calen Van Houten, Grace Bleckwehl, Paige Bleckwehl, and Curtis Bleckwehl; brother, Gerry (Arlene) O’Brien; brother-in-law, Eugene Tolstedt; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Tom was proceeded in death by his parents, Thomas and Inez O’Brien; daughter, Vickie Neville; brother, Marvin O’Brien, and sister-in-law, Bev O’Brien.