Tom L. O’Brien, 76, of Cando, ND, passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at the Towner County Medical Center in Cando. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, July 8, 2022 at the Cando Lutheran Church, Cando, ND at 11:00 a.m. with pastor Bonnie Weaver officiating. Music will be provided by Catherine Anfinson. Honorary urn bearers will be Employees of Legacy Coop Fertilizer Plant. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to a local charity in Cando.
Tom L. O’Brien was born on July 17, 1945 in Cando, ND to Earl and Mathilda (Sand) O’Brien. He attended school in Cando and worked on various grain farms in his younger years. He worked in the potato industry for over 35 years with the Jorde family. He then went on to the Cando Farmers Grain & Oil Company/now Legacy Coop until his cancer diagnosis. He also was employed during that time with North Star Public School driving a school bus. He took teams to their games early on and later helped with routes. He so enjoyed the kids and missed it so much when he had to quit.
Tom was known as the “junk man” of Cando because he collected metals and scrap from anyone who wanted to get rid of it and spent these last years of his life sorting and tearing apart “stuff”. It gave his life purpose as he aged because you couldn’t take his purpose away from him.
Family was always the most important part of his life. He was loved for who he was, quiet, quick-witted and always had a “Tommy joke” to tell. He was united in marriage to Gloria Baldwin on May 28, 1976 in Devils Lake, ND.
Tom is survived by his wife, Gloria of Cando; sons, Michael O’Brien of Cando and Mitchell of Devils Lake, ND; honorary daughter, Monica (Jason) Halverson and their children of Devils Lake; grandchildren, Zachary (Brooke) Mears of Devils Lake and Cameron (Brooke) O’Brien of Beulah, ND; sister, Doreen Frazier of Stockbridge, GA and her family; sisters-in-law, Rose O’Brien of Minot, ND and her family and Doris (Robyn) Brekke of Minot and daughter Danielle Voeller.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Leslie O’Brien and Gerry O’Brien, nephews Leslie & Bradley O’Brien.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to a local charity in Cando.
Tom L. O’Brien was born on July 17, 1945 in Cando, ND to Earl and Mathilda (Sand) O’Brien. He attended school in Cando and worked on various grain farms in his younger years. He worked in the potato industry for over 35 years with the Jorde family. He then went on to the Cando Farmers Grain & Oil Company/now Legacy Coop until his cancer diagnosis. He also was employed during that time with North Star Public School driving a school bus. He took teams to their games early on and later helped with routes. He so enjoyed the kids and missed it so much when he had to quit.
Tom was known as the “junk man” of Cando because he collected metals and scrap from anyone who wanted to get rid of it and spent these last years of his life sorting and tearing apart “stuff”. It gave his life purpose as he aged because you couldn’t take his purpose away from him.
Family was always the most important part of his life. He was loved for who he was, quiet, quick-witted and always had a “Tommy joke” to tell. He was united in marriage to Gloria Baldwin on May 28, 1976 in Devils Lake, ND.
Tom is survived by his wife, Gloria of Cando; sons, Michael O’Brien of Cando and Mitchell of Devils Lake, ND; honorary daughter, Monica (Jason) Halverson and their children of Devils Lake; grandchildren, Zachary (Brooke) Mears of Devils Lake and Cameron (Brooke) O’Brien of Beulah, ND; sister, Doreen Frazier of Stockbridge, GA and her family; sisters-in-law, Rose O’Brien of Minot, ND and her family and Doris (Robyn) Brekke of Minot and daughter Danielle Voeller.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Leslie O’Brien and Gerry O’Brien, nephews Leslie & Bradley O’Brien.