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June 4, 2022Father Donald J. O’Brien, 86, of Kearney died June 4, 2022, at his home. A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 13, at Prince of Peace Church in Kearney. The mass will also be lived streamed through the church's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/princeofpeacecatholicchurch. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery near Wood River. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 12, at the church followed by a 6 p.m. vigil/prayer service.
Father O’Brien was born Sept. 4, 1935, in Minden, to Donald and Lillian O’Brien. He attended St. Patrick’s School in North Platte, graduating in 1953. He began his studies at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver that same year.
He was ordained at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island in 1961 and his first assignment as a priest was at St. Mary’s Hospital in North Platte. He served at Sidney, Amherst and Eddyville, St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island, Shelton, Ainsworth, Scottsbluff, Blessed Sacrament in Grand Island, and 26 years in Cozad and Gothenburg. He taught and administered at multiple Catholic schools during these assignments. He served as the Catholic chaplain of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Grand Island, where he became involved in the alcohol treatment program, celebrating 45 years of sobriety at the time of his death.
After his retirement in 2015, Father O’Brien moved to Kearney where he served at Prince of Peace and St. James Catholic churches, Good Samaritan Hospital and Mount Carmel Home. He celebrated 61 years as a priest on May 23, 2022.
Survivors include his sister, Shirley O’Brien Corwin of Columbia, Mo., 13 nieces and nephews, 18 great-nieces and nephews and five great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother Dr. John Kingsley O’Brien.
Memorials are suggested to North Platte Catholic Schools, Grand Island Central Catholic Elementary School or to Kearney Catholic High School. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
