Jim O'Brien (Papa) left us to be with his God and savior Jesus on the 3 ^rd of October of 2019. He lived at his home in Delray Beach, FL. Jim's wife of 43 years, Pat, who passed away in 2000, will be welcoming him.

Jim was 95 years old, and originally from Des Moines, Iowa.  He was proud of that fact, and always asked people where they were from within minutes of meeting them.  He was born on the 13 ^th of April 1924, in Rockford, IL., as an orphan and was adopted by Charles Mathew O'Brien, a railroad engineer, and Adah Mae (Breeding). His aunt told him that his parents chose him because a little girl dropped her cookie and he shared his, and so began a life of friendship and service to others.

In his early years, his father was in poor health and they traveled back and forth from Des Moines, IA to Boynton Beach, FL. His father died when he was 12 years old and Jim worked to support his mom.  He graduated from Boynton Beach junior high in FL and graduated from Dowling high school in Des Moines.

After graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1942 (he always said his mom had to forge the paperwork since he was 17) and served in the South Pacific as a radio operator.  After WWII ended, he went to Iowa State University in ROTC and became an officer in the Air Force. From 1950-1953, he was in Korea; one of his proudest accomplishments was that he flew the F-94 Starfighter, one of the first jet aircraft, and the first to have radar.  In 1953, he had a condition that blinded him and ended his fighter pilot career.  After a year in a military hospital, he regained most of his sight.  At that point, he moved into communications electronics and traveled the world visiting 47 countries installing radar navigation sites and doing photomapping of the continents. In 1961, his only son, Jim Jr., was born in Wurzburg, Germany.  After moving back to the U.S., he retired in 1970 as a Lieutenant Colonel at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery AL.  He was a fiercely proud Air Force veteran with 28 years of service in three wars (WWII, Korea, and Vietnam).  Jim's service to America, the country he loved, will be missed.

After retiring from the military, he became a teacher of Physics and Mathematics.  He was loved by his students and he generously gave of his time to all those who needed it.  He loved to go by the nickname "Obie" and the kids always called him "Obiwan".  In fact, he taught his son physics and as one of one of Jim's proud accomplishments, his son is now a medical physicist.  His thirst for learning and teaching will be missed.

Throughout his life, Jim was a dedicated servant to others, was strong in his faith, and lived that out to the benefit of all those around him. He taught those around him to love unconditionally; he knew no strangers, only "friends he had not met yet".  He spent many days with his beloved grandchildren, Jim III and Trevor, fishing and just hanging out. He fostered an international student from Thailand, when no one was available to take him. He was always close to Pat's family (the Smith's) from New Jersey, and he loved spending time with them.  He had so many close family friends, it is impossible to name them all, but he showed them how he loved them, so they know who they are. He was a member of the Catholic men's service group, the Knights of Columbus, for 66 years.  He always remembered his orphan background and gave to organizations that helped orphans around the world.  He rarely missed a chance to be at his church to worship and be with friends. Jim's love for Jesus, family, and those in need will be missed.

He was a colorful character…always ready for a party and especially dancing. All the ladies loved to be led in a 1940's style dance with him. He had a wonderful self-deprecating humor, a magnificent story and life well lived - to love others and be loved.

He is survived by his son Jim Jr. and daughter-in-law, Susan, two grandchildren he loved so much, Jim III and Trevor, and our family friends who were his daily buddies for the last two years of his life, Gary and Sharon Stiglic.

As he would tell us, "I'll see you on the other side."

With much love - we'll miss you Papa. -The O'Brien Family

He will be buried with full military honors and placed with his wife Pat, at the Marietta National Cemetery.
In keeping with his service to orphans, donations in memory of Jim should be sent to: Lifesong for Orphans www.lifesong.org/obrien-memorial

Click here to watch the slideshow on James M. O'Brien.