William W. "Bill" O'Brien

William W. O’Brien, age 77, of Deerwood passed away on December 26, 2018, at his home surrounded by Bonnie and their 3 daughters, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.  He was born to Thomas A. and Mabel B. (Wright) O’Brien on December 4, 1941, in Brainerd MN.

He grew up in Cuyuna where he attended grade school before graduating from C-I High School in 1959.  He was an altar boy for 6 years, earned Life Level in Boy Scouts and was inducted into the Order Of The Arrow.  He then became a member of the Knights Of Columbus.  Bill was a US Army National Guard Veteran and recommended for Intelligence School.  He married Bonita Jean Sauer on April 30, 1966, in Le Sueur MN.

He attended UMD, then joined the Minnesota Highway Patrol in 1964, retiring with 21 years of service and earning their first Meritorious Award.  When a back injury ended that career, he spent the next 11 years as an Emergency Dispatcher for the Crosby Police Department.

Bill enjoyed fishing and hunting, golf, making jerky, doing favors for family and friends, and was a great dog whisperer.  He was extremely proud of his wife Bonnie of 52 years, and their daughters, Kathleen Shannon (Pete) Snell, Kelley Colleen (Ed) Sandberg and Patricia Lee (Rick Segler) Westerberg; 4 sisters Anne, Mary, Pat and Barb; and 8 grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents.  

A Celebration of Life will be held at Koop Funeral Home on Saturday, January 5, 2019, with visitation from 1:00-4:00 and a service of remembrance at 3:00.  Memorials preferred.