George M. O'Brien

George Michael O’Brien passed away at the age of 81 on Sept. 27, 2015, two months after suffering a stroke and thereafter being diagnosed with lung cancer.

George was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Alicia; son, Sean; daughter, Bridget (Swartz) (husband, Jay); and granddaughters Jaquelyn and Kasey.

George was the eldest of seven brothers, born and raised in Minneapolis, Minn. He conducted his undergraduate studies and attended seminary at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin.

He subsequently travelled to Europe where he taught boarding school (Vienna, Switzerland), received his Master’s from Brown University (1963), and thereafter obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota (1965).

While completing his Ph.D. in Minneapolis, he met Alicia, who had been visiting from Venezuela, on a blind date. Their courtship was a whirlwind, and they were married a mere six months later in the frigid cold of the North.

He spent most of his academic career (1967-1996) as a Professor of German at the University of Minnesota in Duluth, taking several sabbaticals to conduct research and writing in Germany and Austria, and leading student studies abroad (England, Germany).

George and Alicia introduced travel and other cultures to their children during their upbringing.

Upon his retirement, George and Alicia moved to Arizona where their daughter and her family resided.

George was an intellectual and worldly man with whom anything could be discussed --politics, religion, history, science, you name it. One of his unique interests was professional wrestling and later in life, he was recognized to be a substantial supporter of young wrestlers and promoter of the return of pro wrestling to the sport he knew and loved.

His murder mystery he penned and published during retirement, “Murder in Red Rock Country,” was based on the sport.

George was one of a kind, a faith-filled and brilliant man of many interests, who enjoyed conversation, culture and adventure. He was a rare gem and will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him.

A funeral mass was held at the Casa de Paz y Bien at the Franciscan Renewal Center on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015. Burial followed at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please honor George by making a donation to the charity with which he had volunteered, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, at https://www.stvincentdepaul.net/give/donate.

Arrangements entrusted to Messinger Indian School Mortuary.