Richard Francis O'Brien, 88, passed away peacefully on October 4, 2021 in his home in Branson.
Dick was born in New York, NY, and attended Catholic schools in the Bronx and Goshen, New York. He graduated from the New York College of Forestry in Syracuse, NY with a BS in Environmental Science in 1953. He was a member of the fraternity Alpha Sigma Phi. He later attained his MBA from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, in 1962.
Dick had a successful, nearly 50-year career in the insurance industry in the Kansas City, Missouri area. He earned the professional designation of CPCU. He co-owned and managed an independent agency, Insurance Professionals, from 1976-1988. He was the sole owner and lead instructor at National Insurance Educators from 1988-2004, offering a self-created curriculum for continuing education classes throughout the United States.
He married his college sweetheart, the late Edith Ann (Padley) O'Brien (Okulicz), in 1954. They raised four daughters together, and remained lifelong friends after their divorce in 1981.
He met his beloved wife-to-be, Marilee (Hiskey) in 1997, and informed her he planned to marry her fifteen minutes after they met. They married January 1, 1999 in Mission, KS. They retired to Green Valley, AZ in 2004 where they lived together happily until her death in 2013. He cared for his wife with great devotion throughout her battle with Alzheimer's. The two were active members of Valley Christian Church and volunteers at the Amado Food Bank. Dick moved to Branson in 2019 to be near his family, and he became a much-loved resident at The Oaks Assisted Living for his final two years of life.
As a younger man, Dick enjoyed riding motorcycles, and a variety of water sports. An avid traveler, he visited all 50 states and over 20 different countries. He loved to read and to watch movies, and he enjoyed a good martini. He was a faithful Christian.
He is survived by his four daughters, Darcy Brockhouse of Blue Springs, MO, Derri O'Brien of Kansas City, MO, Doireann O'Brien of Columbia, MO, and Anlon O'Brien of Branson, MO, and their spouses; his brother Kevin O'Brien of New Jersey and his spouse; his six grandchildren, Michelle, Michael-Lee and Luke Brockhouse, Rowan and Linden O'Brien-Williams and Keenan O'Brien; his two great-grandchildren Max and Sterling Brockhouse; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his dear wife, Marilee Suzanne O'Brien; his ex-wife Edith Okulicz, his parents and four of his siblings.
He was cremated at Cremations of the Ozarks following his passing; a celebration of his life is planned for December, to be held in Kansas City.
Dick was born in New York, NY, and attended Catholic schools in the Bronx and Goshen, New York. He graduated from the New York College of Forestry in Syracuse, NY with a BS in Environmental Science in 1953. He was a member of the fraternity Alpha Sigma Phi. He later attained his MBA from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, in 1962.
Dick had a successful, nearly 50-year career in the insurance industry in the Kansas City, Missouri area. He earned the professional designation of CPCU. He co-owned and managed an independent agency, Insurance Professionals, from 1976-1988. He was the sole owner and lead instructor at National Insurance Educators from 1988-2004, offering a self-created curriculum for continuing education classes throughout the United States.
He married his college sweetheart, the late Edith Ann (Padley) O'Brien (Okulicz), in 1954. They raised four daughters together, and remained lifelong friends after their divorce in 1981.
He met his beloved wife-to-be, Marilee (Hiskey) in 1997, and informed her he planned to marry her fifteen minutes after they met. They married January 1, 1999 in Mission, KS. They retired to Green Valley, AZ in 2004 where they lived together happily until her death in 2013. He cared for his wife with great devotion throughout her battle with Alzheimer's. The two were active members of Valley Christian Church and volunteers at the Amado Food Bank. Dick moved to Branson in 2019 to be near his family, and he became a much-loved resident at The Oaks Assisted Living for his final two years of life.
As a younger man, Dick enjoyed riding motorcycles, and a variety of water sports. An avid traveler, he visited all 50 states and over 20 different countries. He loved to read and to watch movies, and he enjoyed a good martini. He was a faithful Christian.
He is survived by his four daughters, Darcy Brockhouse of Blue Springs, MO, Derri O'Brien of Kansas City, MO, Doireann O'Brien of Columbia, MO, and Anlon O'Brien of Branson, MO, and their spouses; his brother Kevin O'Brien of New Jersey and his spouse; his six grandchildren, Michelle, Michael-Lee and Luke Brockhouse, Rowan and Linden O'Brien-Williams and Keenan O'Brien; his two great-grandchildren Max and Sterling Brockhouse; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his dear wife, Marilee Suzanne O'Brien; his ex-wife Edith Okulicz, his parents and four of his siblings.
He was cremated at Cremations of the Ozarks following his passing; a celebration of his life is planned for December, to be held in Kansas City.
Richard Francis O'Brien, 88, passed away peacefully on October 4, 2021 in his home in Branson.
Dick was born in New York, NY, and attended Catholic schools in the Bronx and Goshen, New York. He graduated from the New York College of Forestry in Syracuse, NY with a BS in Environmental Science in 1953. He was a member of the fraternity Alpha Sigma Phi. He later attained his MBA from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, in 1962.
Dick had a successful, nearly 50-year career in the insurance industry in the Kansas City, Missouri area. He earned the professional designation of CPCU. He co-owned and managed an independent agency, Insurance Professionals, from 1976-1988. He was the sole owner and lead instructor at National Insurance Educators from 1988-2004, offering a self-created curriculum for continuing education classes throughout the United States.
He married his college sweetheart, the late Edith Ann (Padley) O'Brien (Okulicz), in 1954. They raised four daughters together, and remained lifelong friends after their divorce in 1981.
He met his beloved wife-to-be, Marilee (Hiskey) in 1997, and informed her he planned to marry her fifteen minutes after they met. They married January 1, 1999 in Mission, KS. They retired to Green Valley, AZ in 2004 where they lived together happily until her death in 2013. He cared for his wife with great devotion throughout her battle with Alzheimer's. The two were active members of Valley Christian Church and volunteers at the Amado Food Bank. Dick moved to Branson in 2019 to be near his family, and he became a much-loved resident at The Oaks Assisted Living for his final two years of life.
As a younger man, Dick enjoyed riding motorcycles, and a variety of water sports. An avid traveler, he visited all 50 states and over 20 different countries. He loved to read and to watch movies, and he enjoyed a good martini. He was a faithful Christian.
He is survived by his four daughters, Darcy Brockhouse of Blue Springs, MO, Derri O'Brien of Kansas City, MO, Doireann O'Brien of Columbia, MO, and Anlon O'Brien of Branson, MO, and their spouses; his brother Kevin O'Brien of New Jersey and his spouse; his six grandchildren, Michelle, Michael-Lee and Luke Brockhouse, Rowan and Linden O'Brien-Williams and Keenan O'Brien; his two great-grandchildren Max and Sterling Brockhouse; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his dear wife, Marilee Suzanne O'Brien; his ex-wife Edith Okulicz, his parents and four of his siblings.
He was cremated at Cremations of the Ozarks following his passing; a celebration of his life is planned for December, to be held in Kansas City.
Dick was born in New York, NY, and attended Catholic schools in the Bronx and Goshen, New York. He graduated from the New York College of Forestry in Syracuse, NY with a BS in Environmental Science in 1953. He was a member of the fraternity Alpha Sigma Phi. He later attained his MBA from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, in 1962.
Dick had a successful, nearly 50-year career in the insurance industry in the Kansas City, Missouri area. He earned the professional designation of CPCU. He co-owned and managed an independent agency, Insurance Professionals, from 1976-1988. He was the sole owner and lead instructor at National Insurance Educators from 1988-2004, offering a self-created curriculum for continuing education classes throughout the United States.
He married his college sweetheart, the late Edith Ann (Padley) O'Brien (Okulicz), in 1954. They raised four daughters together, and remained lifelong friends after their divorce in 1981.
He met his beloved wife-to-be, Marilee (Hiskey) in 1997, and informed her he planned to marry her fifteen minutes after they met. They married January 1, 1999 in Mission, KS. They retired to Green Valley, AZ in 2004 where they lived together happily until her death in 2013. He cared for his wife with great devotion throughout her battle with Alzheimer's. The two were active members of Valley Christian Church and volunteers at the Amado Food Bank. Dick moved to Branson in 2019 to be near his family, and he became a much-loved resident at The Oaks Assisted Living for his final two years of life.
As a younger man, Dick enjoyed riding motorcycles, and a variety of water sports. An avid traveler, he visited all 50 states and over 20 different countries. He loved to read and to watch movies, and he enjoyed a good martini. He was a faithful Christian.
He is survived by his four daughters, Darcy Brockhouse of Blue Springs, MO, Derri O'Brien of Kansas City, MO, Doireann O'Brien of Columbia, MO, and Anlon O'Brien of Branson, MO, and their spouses; his brother Kevin O'Brien of New Jersey and his spouse; his six grandchildren, Michelle, Michael-Lee and Luke Brockhouse, Rowan and Linden O'Brien-Williams and Keenan O'Brien; his two great-grandchildren Max and Sterling Brockhouse; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his dear wife, Marilee Suzanne O'Brien; his ex-wife Edith Okulicz, his parents and four of his siblings.
He was cremated at Cremations of the Ozarks following his passing; a celebration of his life is planned for December, to be held in Kansas City.
Gravesite Details
Dick's ashes were scattered at South Lawn Memorial Cemetery near his wife Marilee's final resting place.
