Marilyn O'Brien

April 1, 1945 - February 8, 2021

Marilyn (McGee) O’Brien died on February 8, 2021, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa. Marilyn was born on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, in Melrose, Iowa. She was the only child of William and Kay McGee. Marilyn grew up in Melrose and graduated from Albia High School in 1962. She attended Ottumwa Heights, Northeast Missouri State, and received her degree in Education from William Penn University. She later received her Masters in English from Drake University. Marilyn married David O’Brien (also from Melrose) on July 1, 1967. Marilyn and Dave had two children, John and Marcy. John was a Professor of Physics and Executive Vice-Dean of the University of Southern California School of Engineering. Marcy is an attorney in Windsor Heights. Marilyn and Dave were married until Dave’s death in 2002. Marilyn taught junior and senior high school English in Indianola for twenty-five years and then was Curriculum Director for five years until her retirement in 2007. Following retirement, Marilyn volunteered in the parish office at Christ the King Church in Des Moines for ten years. Marilyn is survived by her daughter, Marcy O’Brien. She is preceded in death by her husband, David O’Brien; her son, John O’Brien; and her parents, William and Kay McGee. Mass of Christian Burial will be held, 11:00 am Friday, February 12, 2021 at Christ the King Catholic Church (5711 SW 9th Street Des Moines) with visitation beginning at 9:00 am until service time at the church. Burial will be 1 PM Saturday, February 20, 2021 at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Melrose, IA. The visitation and funeral will be live Streamed on Dyamond Memorial's Facebook page beginning at 10 AM on Friday. Flower delivery may be delivered to the church on Friday morning after 7:45 am.