Obituary of James Patrick O'Brien Sr.

James Patrick O’Brien passed from this life in the late evening hours of January 8, 2019. Jim was surrounded by his family when he passed from this life into the next.

Jim began his life’s journey on May 8, 1930 at Mercy Hospital in Denver, Colorado. His parents John O'Brien and Mary (Gully) O’Brien welcomed their second son into this life and took him home to their home in Kittridge, Co. In time the family returned to the Gully Homestead on Tollgate Creek in Aurora. Jim farmed and ranched on and around the original family homestead until the early 1980’s when due to the buildup of Aurora he and his brother John moved the operation to the Bennett area. Married on April 19, 1952 to Ramona (Plante) O’Brien they brought 5 daughters and 4 sons into their lives.

As a young man Jim loved to rodeo and was always part of the local rodeos at the Gully arena or surrounding ranches. Jim ran a successful farm, ranch and dairy herd until the early 1970’s when he sold the dairy herd to focus on beef cattle and dryland farming. Jim was fond of saying he always had plenty of everything except a positive cash flow.

The land and livestock were an integral part of our Dad. As young children growing up working beside him we sometimes wondered if he loved the cows or us more. But when he would pick you up from the dust after a bad fall, brush you off and kiss the top of your head ... you always knew ... his highest priority was always to his family! Dad worked hard but he loved to laugh, he always had a joke or two to lighten the load and he loved to pull pranks on us kids and his friends.

Jim joins his parents, his brother and a host of family and friends in his new house with God. He leaves behind Ramona O’Brien and his children; Teresa (Morey), James Jr., Michael, Mary (Ulmer), Joseph, John, Ramona (Chase), Sarah (Albert) and Margret. A much-loved cousin Elizabeth (Mann) Sala that grew up with him. A unofficially adopted son, Terry Wenze. Thirty-Two Grandchildren, Thirty-One Great Grandchildren along with many friends and acquaintances.

Services for Jim will be held at Our Lady of the Plains Catholic Church in Byers Colorado:

Rosary on January 16, 2019 at 7:00pm

Funeral Mass on January 17, 2019 at 11:00am *

*Internment will be at the Bennett Cemetery in Bennett, Co. following the Mass.    

One of Jim’s favorite saying was an old Irish Blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

We pray him safe journeys and know that in God’s time we will be reunited with him to celebrate with him once again.