Obituary

Lorraine Mavis O'Brien
Lorraine Mavis O'Brien
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Lorraine Mavis (Novak) O'Brien passed away on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, with her grandson by her side at the age of 102 1/2 years old. She was born on June 26, 1920, in Antigo, to Frank and Hazel (Standiford) Novak. She married Peter James O'Brien on November 17, 1938, in Valparaiso, Indiana where they eloped. They celebrated 70 years of marriage, Peter preceded her in death on March 16, 2008.

She graduated from Antigo High School, class of 1938.

Lorraine and Peter bought a dairy farm in the Town of Neva in 1942. They milked cows until a barn fire in 1979 when Peter switched to raising herd replacements and Lorraine became an Avon Lady. Lorraine lived on the home farm until three months before her passing when she was moved to the New Prospective Assisted living home in Sun Prairie, managed by her great-grandson, Colin O'Brien.

Lorraine was a firm believer in community involvement. A 4-H Leader for 58 years, she formed the Deerbrook Eager Beavers 4-H Club in 1949 and served as their general leader until 1972 when Adeline Hess joined her as co-leaders. She was a crocheting and knitting project leader and served on the County 4-H Leaders Board. Lorraine was recognized as 4-H Leader of the Year in 1976. She was also active in the Friebel Extension Homemakers Club and American Milk Producers, Inc.

She loved to travel and visited Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Canada often while visiting her daughter, Laurel, who was teaching oversea for the Dept of Defense.

Lorraine believed strongly in the principle of learning by doing. She took many adult education classes including making drapes, tailoring, knitting, crocheting, first aid, and personal finance and investing. She was an avid knitter, having knit over 400 hats for the military and also knit hats for the Antigo Head Start program.

Lorraine and Peter raised two of their grandsons for three years while their mother, Margaret, got her education. Lorraine and Peter ran their own type of "summer on the farm" for many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Lorraine was active in supporting blood drives and donated gallons of blood. She also did fundraising for the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin through the sale of Tootsie Roll banks. In 1967 her daughter, Laurel received a kidney transplant from her sister, Margaret. The transplant was the third living donor transplant at the University Hospital in Madison and Laurel was their first pediatric transplant.

Survivors include five daughters, Sharon Mackiewicz, Margaret (Wayne) Culpitt, Geraldine (Todd) Kridler, Laurel O'Brien and Patricia (Ron) Rode; 11 grandchildren, Ken and Ed O'Brien, Rick and Mark Kridler, Mike Mackiewicz, Cynthia Reilly, and Tom Mackiewicz, Ann Boshan, Gabriela and Alicia Benka; 14 great-grandchildren, Megan O'Brien, Nicole Sponem and Colin O'Brien, Kyle Erickson-O'Brien, Edward Mackiewicz and Jessica Chroge, Jackie and James Reilly, Franchesea Swim and Austin Boshan, Samantha Mackiewicz, Adonis Rechlin, Lincoln O'Brien, Rebecca Mackiewicz; and 12 great-great-grandchildren, Quinn, Brooklyn and Harper Sponem, Winona and Elisa Jane O'Brien, Linzie, William, Joshua, Connor and Scarlett Swim, Brantley Kor, and Maximilian Chroge.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Jamie Mackiewicz; son-in-law, Jim Mackiewicz; and three siblings, Maurice "Red" Novak, Francis Rettinger and John Novak.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 11 at 11 a.m. at the Bradley Funeral Home with Reverend Wes Jedras officiating. Burial will take place at the Elmwood Cemetery in Antigo.

Visitation will be Friday, February 10 from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin (www.kidneywi.org) or the Deerbrook EagerBeaver 4-H Club, c/o Adeline Hess, N6675 Cty Rd V, Deerbrook, WI 54424

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Services

Visitation

Feb
10
Friday
Bradley Funeral Home
1550 Neva Road
Antigo, WI 54409
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

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Visitation

Feb
11
Saturday
Bradley Funeral Home
1550 Neva Road
Antigo, WI 54409
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

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Service

Feb
11
Saturday
Bradley Funeral Home
1550 Neva Road
Antigo, WI 54409
11:00 AM

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B Bradley Funeral Home on Feb 7, 2023

+44

B Bradley Funeral Home on Feb 7, 2023

J Jessica Olson on Feb 7, 2023

k ken monteleone on Feb 3, 2023

What an amazing woman. My heart goes out to the O'Brien Family. Sincerely, Ken

J Jeanne Peters on Feb 2, 2023

Our thoughts and prayers to a life well lived! We knew her through her 4H volunteer. She was a giving person to the community and the 4H program.

  Beth Wagner on Feb 2, 2023

I am so sorry to read of your mother’s passing. I remember her hard work and community dedication. Beth Mattek Wagner

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