Stanley Bernard O'Brien

Early in the morning on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, surrounded by his children, Stanley Bernard O’Brien was reunited with, the love of his life, Caryl Jean.

Stanley was born on August 7, 1943, to Charles Bernard (Bern) O’Brien and Clara Gertrude (Matheis) O’Brien in Algona, Iowa. He was born and raised on the family farm in Whittemore, Iowa, in March of 1957, they moved to their Hayfield, Minnesota farm. He graduated from Hayfield High School in 1961, and was a Wasioja Conference Champion wrestler weighing 98 pounds, which he loved telling everyone about.

Following high school, he worked as an orderly at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN where he met “the cutest little front desk registrar”, Caryl Jean (Peterson) O’Brien. They were married on June 6, 1964, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester, MN. In 1967, they moved to Hayfield, MN, where they made their family home for 58 years.

He worked for IBM and was very proud of all his accomplishments and awards given to him in his 30 years of employment. During this time, he was also the sole proprietor of O. B.’s Refuse where we got to spend quality time in the evenings riding along with Dad to keep him awake. After retiring from IBM, he went back to school and graduated from the Building Utility Maintenance program at RCTC which led him to Hayfield Community Schools where he worked in maintenance for a few years. He was also a handyman to many people in the Hayfield community as well as working for Reese Farms and with Matt at Sargeant Ag Services which he really loved.

He was a devoted member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He enjoyed playing softball, coaching girls summer softball, bowling, fishing, and camping. He always looked forward to the O’Brien Family Reunion that took place every July 4th starting in 1980. He taught his children and grandchildren the importance of family, hard work, and caring for those less fortunate and anyone in need, and he gave us strong values that we hold dear to this day. He also gave us the “Gift of Gab” and his good sense of humor, which we love him so much for.

In honor of our favorite Irishmen, we ask everyone to wear a little green in his memory at his visitation and funeral.

Stan is survived by his 7 children, Ann (Mike) Woslager, Colleen (Randy) Reese, Mary (Mike) Timmons, Melissa O’Brien, Matthew O’Brien, Paul O’Brien, and Emily (Kevin Weber) Bloem, and Poppy (his favorite child-puppy); grandchildren, Amanda (Glenn) Boyum, Megan (Catherine) Milner-Woslager, Samuel (Danielle) Woslager, Velsi, Isabel (Francisco Martinez), Millie, Clare, Kate, Adam, Sofia, Gabe, and Abby Woslager, Hanna (Drew) Medin, Joe (Jenna) Volgarino, Zach Volgarino, Anthony (Rachel) Reese, Alex (Megan) Reese, Abbey (Brady) Crabtree, Luke (Jenna) Timmons, Nate Timmons, Noah (Mikayla Schmidt) Timmons, Elijah (Kayla Arneson) O’Brien, Erin O’Brien, Sean O’Brien, Payne O’Brien, Pierce O’Brien, Knox O’Brien, Madeline (Nick) Janssen, Jack Pennington, Lydia Pennington; great-Grandchildren, Scarlett Boyum, Felicity Boyum, Caryl Milner, Tanner Woslager, Mason Woslager, Henri Woslager, Gia Volgarino, Wes Volgarino, Vera Reese, Eve Reese, Gabe Reese, and Baby Reese, Maeve Crabtree, Ezra Crabtree, Liam Timmons, John David Stanley Timmons, Ayla Timmons, Kyson Arneson, Kiyara Arneson, Charlie O’Brien and Baby O’Brien; brothers, Dennis O’Brien, Charles (Dorothy) O’Brien, James (Judy) O’Brien, Tom O’Brien, Pat (Sharon) O’Brien; and many nieces, nephews, brother and sisters-in-laws, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Caryl O’Brien; parents, Bern and Clara O’Brien; daughter, Mikaela O’Brien; grand-daughter, Ella Woslager; sister, Marilyn Iler; father and mother-in-law, Bennie and June Peterson; brother and sisters-in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The O’Brien family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to Fieldcrest Care Center, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Mayo Clinic, and Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 150 2nd St NE in Hayfield, MN with Father William Becker officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 501 2nd St NW in Hayfield, MN and one hour prior to his service at the church.  Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Hayfield, MN.

To share a special memory or condolence please, visit www.czaplewskifuneralhomes.com, Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 501 2nd Street NW, Hayfield, Minnesota, 507-477-2259. Blessed be his memory.