Obituary - John Adrien O'Brien

Tuesday, December 12, 2006
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Juneau resident John Adrien O'Brien Sr., 77, died Dec. 4, 2006, in his home after several years of declining health. Juneau was his home since 1963.

He was born Feb. 22, 1929, in Bronxville, N.Y. Following graduation from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Anchorage, where he became a meteorologist.

His fiancé, Marilyn Murray, also from New York, joined him in Anchorage where they were married on May 8, 1948. They fell in love with Alaska and Alaska remained their home.

His careers included being a meteorologist with the U.S. Weather Bureau on Annette Island and Juneau, and a commercial fisherman for eight years in Ketchikan on his boats "The Dusty" and "The Rocket." He retired as a purser with the Alaska Marine Highway System.

According to family members, he had a great love for gardening and enjoyed helping new gardeners, giving advice and sharing his plants. Many Juneau gardens have plants from his garden. He had a keen interest in original Alaska art and was a respected appraiser of original paintings by Alaska masters such as Sydney Laurence.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Rose O'Brien; son, Thomas O'Brien; brother, Michael Brian O'Brien; and grandson, Michael Don O'Brien.

He is survived by his wife; daughter, Kathleen Sturrock and her husband, Jim, of Juneau; sons, John O'Brien and his wife, Audrey, and Michael O'Brien, of Juneau; daughter, Colleen Carlson and her husband, Harold, of Moses Lake, Wash.; brother, George O'Brien; sisters, Eleanor Hudson, Maureen Marushok, Patricia Freeman and Bernadette Taylor; and grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Alaskan Memorial Park and Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a charity of your choice. The family can be contacted at 9450 Herbert Place, Juneau, AK, 99801.

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