Mrs. Joseph (Lorraine M.) O’Brien went to join her Creator and Savior Jesus Christ on October 11, 2013 while at her home.

She was born in Milwaukee, WI on July 29, 1921, daughter of the late John and Veronica (Jendrzejewski) Dwyer. She was raised on a farm near Seymour and went to school in Oneida. After school she lived and worked in Milwaukee where she was introduced to her future husband. On March 9, 1942, she married Joseph O’Brien in Oneida, WI. After he returned from serving in the Army in Europe during WWII, they settled on the family farm in Manawa, Wisconsin. There they raised their 13 children. (She was a treasured patient of Dr. Monsted). She was a long-time member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, serving the congregation in many roles. Lorraine was a founding member of Lebanon Cedars 4 H club. She was a leader for 25 years and was very proud to watch many of her members go to the State Fair with their projects.

Lorraine enjoyed cooking, baking, and sewing for her family. She also loved to travel throughout the United States to visit her children and relatives while she could. She also enjoyed a special trip to Italy and Ireland. Her greatest joy was playing cards, especially bridge, with her friends and teaching her grandchildren how to play cards. She also enjoyed hearing about the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She never stopped learning through reading and sharing with her children. In her later years she learned to operate a computer and finally mastered e-mail. She enjoyed receiving the messages with all the news, pictures and jokes attached, and it helped her to keep abreast of all her family members.

Lorraine is survived by thirteen children, six daughters and seven sons: Patrick (Pam) O’Brien, New London, WI; Margaret Nelson, Sheboygan WI; Timothy (Mary) O’Brien, Appleton, WI; Susan (Robert) Kuehling, Verona, WI; Michael (M. Jacqueline) O’Brien, Indianapolis, IN; Kathryn Freiburger, Appleton WI; Barbara (Dan) Bodette, Prescott, WI; Florence (Steve) Premeau, Chandler, AZ; Jo Ann (Ross) Fenner, Boise, ID; John (Wendy) O’Brien, Manawa, WI; Thomas (Shelly) O’Brien, New Glarus, WI; Frank (Lisa) O’Brien, Oregon, WI; Joel (Mary) O’Brien Indianapolis, IN. There are thirty-seven grandchildren: Tara (Scott Kissane) O’Brien, Bette (Glenn) Casey, Joseph (Mary) O’Brien, Mark (Andrea) O’Brien, Matt (Shannon) O’Brien, Sean Nelson, Bryon (Nicole) Nelson, Shannon (Tom) Thurner, Paul (Trina) Nelson, Jill (Brandon) Vanderhoof, Tracy (Alfred Ray) O’Brien and Diane (Tanner Stevens) O’Brien, Megan (Zach McIntosh) Kuehling and Jeffrey Kuehling, Patrick D. O’Brien, Todd Freiburger, Michelle (Joe) Zera, Patricia (Ben) Plutz, Nicholas, Nathan and Danielle Bodette, Cloe, Chelsea and Camille Premeau, Erin and Michaela Fenner, Elizabeth and Nathan O’Brien, Katelyn and Jessica O’Brien, Alex (Anna) O’Brien and Kyle O’Brien, Molly, Casey, Bailey, Liam and Logan O’Brien. There are also twenty-four great-grandchildren: Cody and Brooke Casey, Cole, Cora and Gabe O’Brien, Sage, Macy and Terry James O’Brien, Myles and Morgan O’Brien, Aidan, Teagan and Addison Nelson, Thomas, and Trent Thurner, Kat and Lucy Nelson, Blake, Natalie and Alyssa Vanderhoof, Jasper O’Brien-Ray, Jayden Zera, Jacob and Samuel Plutz. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 45 years, Joseph, in 1987, three sisters Ruth, Jane and Irene, a son-in-law Michael Freiburger, 8 sisters-in-law and 6 brothers-in-law. Lorraine was last member of the O’Brien/Dwyer for this generation.

Charles Hofmann will celebrate the Funeral Mass for Lorraine 10:30 a.m on October 16 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Manawa, WI. Burial will be in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church parish cemetery Lebanon. A prayer service will be held 4:00-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 15. Visitation will follow, 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Cline & Hanson Funeral Home, Manawa, WI. Visitation will also be held at the church on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. The family would like to extend a special thank you to; her neighbors, Carl and Kate Lucht, who looked out for her over the years, the marathon bridge group who allow her to play well into her 90s, her niece, Maureen, the staff from Hospice Theda Care (Sara, Sue, and Alyssa), the staff from Sacred Heart church (Judy Hein and Elaine Graper), her hair stylists, Donna Mundt and Michele Much, who made so many trips to the house, and the many caregivers during the last few years, Rhonda Blair, Lakeshia Vanstraten, Cheryl Prill, Tammy Ardnt, Faye Buch, A special thank you to Karen Feltz, Judy Doud and Dawn Soliva who were with her to the very end. The family considers you angels. Lorraine spoke so highly of you and appreciated all you did for her.