James John O'Brien

James John O’Brien of Daphne, Alabama, died peacefully on March 21, 2026 at the age of 91. Born in Carroll, Iowa, on September 14, 1934, to Francis and Helen O’Brien, Jim grew up in Lake City, Iowa, where he enjoyed football, basketball, track, hunting, and fishing. Jim attended college at Iowa State University and Mankato State University, and did graduate work in business administration at the University of Minnesota. He worked as a financial specialist for several large and mid-size businesses, including Graco, Weatherhead, Gulf States Paper/Westervelt, and Parker Towing. Jim’s community roles included service with the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa, the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way of West Alabama. In his spare time, Jim was an avid reader, sailor, and sportsman. He loved sailing on Lake Tuscaloosa, Little Lagoon, and Ole River. He hunted pheasants in Iowa, deer in Alabama, geese in Maryland, and doves in Mexico and South America. In his later years, he could be found reading novels on his porch overlooking Ole River, keeping an occasional eye on the ospreys, herons, and dolphins. Jim is survived by his sister, Donna Willet of Scottsdale, Arizona; and his children: Timothy O’Brien of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Margaret Parenteau (Todd) of Lakeland Shores, Minnesota; Thomas O’Brien (Dena) of Edina, Minnesota; Kathleen Gray (Tim) of Forest Lake, Minnesota; Michael O’Brien of Pensacola, Florida; and Elizabeth Williams (Les) of Fairhope, Alabama. In addition, he is survived by his grandchildren, Christopher, Emma, Annie, Erin, Maggie, Zarah, Anne Riley and Mary Helen; and his great grandchildren, Zoe, Weston, McKenna, Beau, Briggs, Addison, Marlee, and Baker. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Boy Scouts of America.