In Memoriam Grandpa Bill

William O'Bryan

Service: Friday, July 20, 2012 10:30 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church

William Marion O’Bryan (Bill) was born on April 6, 1926 in Philpot, KY to Annabelle (Head) and Joseph H. O’Bryan. He passed away peacefully on July 15, 2012 at the age of 86 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, IA surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson, Iowa at 10:30 a.m. on July 20, 2012, with Rev. Jeremy Wind officiating. Cremains are buried at St. Joseph Cemetery in Jefferson, IA.

Bill spent most of his childhood in Kentucky, and first learned to repair shoes when he was 13 years old, in his brother Joe’s shop in Owensboro. In 1947, Bill met Kathleen (Katy) Flynn on a blind date set up by her sister. Katy had previously “checked him out” while he was working in the shoe repair department for Kresge’s in Sioux City, Iowa. He must have passed the test, as they were married on August 19, 1948 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sioux City. They lived in Clinton, Iowa above the shoe repair shop for 3 years. Patrick and Donald were born in Clinton. Bill managed a shoe shop in Maquoketa, Iowa for 4 years. The family grew to 8 with the addition of Susan, Marilyn, Rita, and Peggy, all born in Maquoketa.

For 27 years, Bill worked in shoe repair shops all over the country before buying his own business, located on S. Wilson Avenue in Jefferson in 1957. Bill received many awards through the years for his excellent shoe repair skills. In 1966, he won the Shoe Service Magazine National Silver Cup for his expert craftsmanship and his abilities as a businessman. Bill and Katy owned and operated the O’Bryan Shoe Store on the southwest corner of the square in Jefferson from 1963 to 1976. After retirement, Bill and Katy spent many winters in Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Florida.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and several siblings: Joe, Richard, Catherine, and John O’Bryan and Tony Hall. Survivors include Katy, his wife of 64 years, of Jefferson; sisters, Ida Sue Smith and Patricia Maugherman of Kentucky; sons Pat of Des Moines, IA and Don (Barb) of Papillion, NE; daughters, Sue (Tom) Wind of Jamaica, IA, Marilyn (Denny) Tilley of Churdan, IA, Rita O’Bryan of Argonia, KS, and Peg O’Bryan of Savannah, GA. His grandchildren include Lori (Scott) Meinecke of Sheldon, IA; Cheri Warren of Papillion, NE; Mary Jo (Ryan) Koch of Churdan, IA; Lori (Dan) Judge of Boone, IA; Kim (Robby) Stephenson of Lohrville, IA; Rev. Jeremy Wind of Storm Lake, IA; Joe O’Bryan of Loveland, CO; Kelly (Trevor) Petersma of Des Moines; Tami Tilley of Pataskala, OH; Marieta (Pat) Boberg of Des Moines; Karen O’Bryan of Minneapolis, MN; Katie Hammond of Havelock, NC; Chris Wind of Phoenix, AZ; and Shannan O’Bryan of Des Moines. Great-grandchildren include Eric (Katie), Kevin and Lyndsie Meinecke; Abby and Sydney Koch; Dustin and Haley Warren; Will and Jacob Judge; Karissa and Bryce Stephenson; and Atticus Petersma. Bill & Katy have one great-great grandchild: Avery Grace Meinecke.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests that memorials be given to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson. Holy Rosary led by Knights of Columbus: 9:00 a.m. Family Visitation: 9:20 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m.