Dennis Harold O’Brien

Dennis Harold O’Brien

Dennis Harold O’Brien, 89, of Omaha, Nebraska died on February 27, 2024.  He was born on June 3, 1934.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 15, 2024: 5PM-7PM with a Prayer Service: 6:30PM-7PM all at West Center Chapel.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 12 noon, Living Water Lutheran Church, 4141 N. 156th Street, Omaha, NE 68116

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Lutheran Hours Ministries or Living Water Lutheran Church.

Dennis “Denny” Harold O’Brien was called home on February 27, 2024, at age 89 and is now resting peacefully in the arms of our Heavenly Father. Denny was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle and he lived an extraordinary life filled with love, laughter, and happiness.

Denny was born in June of 1934 at Meadow Grove, NE to Harold A. and Erma K. (nee Scheer) O’Brien and was baptized that same month. He was confirmed at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Norfolk, NE in March of 1948. Denny attended school in Norfolk, NE and graduated from Norfolk High School in 1952. He attended Norfolk Jr College for two years and then enlisted in the Army in the fall of 1954. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, TX and Babenhausen, Germany. After his discharge from the Army in 1956, he attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1960.

Denny married Shirley Ann Praeuner in January of 1958 and, after graduating from college, moved to Omaha, NE where they lived for 36 years. He worked for the Nebraska Department of Roads for six years and then for Valmont Industries in Valley, NE until his retirement in 1996. Denny and Shirley built their dream home overlooking Truman Lake in Warsaw, MO after his retirement and resided there for 26 years before moving back to Omaha, NE in March of 2023.

For anyone that knew Denny, the choice to retire on a lake was no big surprise and is a testament to Denny’s and Shirley’s love of boating and waterskiing – one they shared with their family and friends. It was Denny who taught his children and grandchildren – and their friends, along with nieces and nephews how to waterski. Whether he was in the water, holding skies in place, putting one of the kids on the front of his skis so they could “get the feel”, or driving the boat, Denny had endless patience when it came to sharing one of his greatest pleasures in life. And nothing ever beat a good cup of coffee coupled with an early morning ski, just after the sun came up and the water was like glass.

Denny had a way of recounting events that reflected his Irish heritage – a hint of drama and a large dose of humor – generally with a sparkle in his eyes and a very large grin on his face. While not known for his tact, he was kind, generous and committed to his family and friends. More importantly, Denny had a deep, abiding faith in God our Father and in his Son, Jesus Christ, which was exemplified by not only what he would say but also by what he would do. And this is his greatest legacy to his family and friends. The last prayer he spoke with his wife Shirley expressed his greatest hope very simply: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

Denny was preceded in death by his father, Harold A. O’Brien; mother, Erma; sister, Eileen (nee O’Brien) Pettitt; brother-in-law, Delbert Pettitt; brother-in-law, Howard Praeuner; sister-in-law, Phylis (nee Glandt) Praeuner; nephew, Bruce Pettitt. His is survived by his wife, Shirley; and their four children: Derek Jon (Paula) O’Brien of Valley, NE, Darci Jo O’Brien of Paola, KS, Kori Jill (Mike) Schlueter of Casa Grande, AZ, and Kyron Dru (Kristina) O’Brien of Omaha, NE; seven grandchildren: Lindsi (Juan Tito) Martinez, Kolby (Carly) Schlueter, Tyler O’Brien, Jeanna O’Brien, Kylie O’Brien, Abiageal O’Brien, and Kyron O’Brien Jr; four great-grandchildren: Jaxon Martinez, Jaidon Martinez, Alina Schlueter, and Kalan Schlueter; brother, Douglas O’Brien of Omaha, NE; four nephews; four nieces.