James (Jim) O'Brien of Antioch, CA died on August 21, 2022. Jim was born February 26, 1936, in r ural Cook County, Illinois the town of Steger. Jim's parents were Floyd Andrew O'Brien and Ola Olive Carter. His siblings included 2 brothers: Richard O'Brien and Floyd O'Brien. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Donna Rae O'Brien, on February 7th, 2022.

As a small child, Jim's family moved to Oakland, CA. In Oakland, his father worked as a Purchasing Agent for the American Manganese Steel Company and his mother was a homemaker. At some point his family moved from Oakland to Clinton, Indiana where they lived with his paternal grandmother Clara Smith. This is where Jim remembers working at a bar that his family owned every day after school.

His family moved back and forth between Clinton, Indiana and Bethel Island, CA for a few years before finally settling down in Bethel Island. Jim attended Liberty High School in Brentwood, CA. While there he was on both the swim and the football team. He was quite the athlete. Jim was captain of the swim team and did well in football despite his lack of experience. He liked to tell the story of having to either walk, run, or hitch a ride to get home from school because he didn't have his own car. He joked that this unwanted exercise was why he was so athletic. He remembers his family being so poor in those days that their meals often came from their own garden and the fish they would catch in the Delta.

Jim served in the Air Force from 1958 to 1962. He was a medic and was stationed in Japan. His adventures while there was the stuff of family legend.

When he came home from overseas, he met the woman of his dreams Donna Rae Williams. As soon as he laid eyes on her, he told his buddies: "that's the woman I'm gonna marry!" He was right, and they were married on February 15, 1959, in Reno, Nevada. Together they had three sons: Michael Andrew O'Brien, Mitchell Allen O'Brien, and Darrin Wesley O'Brien.

Jim is survived by his boys, his grandchildren (Michael O'Brien, Jamie Moore, Carrie Saucedo, Aiden O'Brien, and Andrew O'Brien), great grandchildren, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors.

Jim and Donna first lived in an apartment building close to D Street and Rossi Avenue in Antioch, CA (just blocks from where Donna was raised). They moved around several times while working and saving money before purchasing a brand-new house in 1966 on Cooper Court in Antioch for $17,000. They lived together there for the next 56 years. Jim participated in all his children's activities including coaching their sports teams and being a troop leader in boy scouts.

Jim worked 50 years as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). He also spent several years working as a volunteer Law Enforcement Officer, which he enjoyed very much. Jim loved his job in Orthodontics because he "loved giving children beautiful smiles." He also became very close with his employers Dr. George Redman, and Dr. David Schleimer. They were two people Jim loved like family.

Jim was an endearing man with quick wit and a tremendous sense of humor. Those that knew him will never forget what great storyteller he was – quick to laugh and sharp to the very end. He was a Christian man and always compassionate. Jim and Donna O'Brien were a source of stability, love and kindness that will be sorely missed.

Services will be held for both Jim and Donna on Friday, October 21, 2022, at 1:00pm at Oakview Memorial Cemetery in Antioch, followed by a gathering at their niece Camille's house in Oakley at: 431 Bedford Lane. Food and drinks will be served.