Rodger O'Brien

1918 - 2017

Rodger Thomas Roswell O’Brien, beloved husband of the late Norma O’Brien, passed away peacefully in Taber on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at the age of 99 years.

 The Funeral Service was held at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. Burial followed at the Taber Memorial Garden. 

 Rodger is survived by two daughters Charlotte M. “Peggy” (Dale) Loomis of Coaldale and their daughters Deena (Stuart) MacWilliam (their children Lochlan, Torin, Rhyker and Finley) and Tara-Lee (Jon) Greenwood (their children Owen and Oliver); Brenda L. (Ray) Untereiner of Taber and their children Brent (Laurie) Untereiner (their children Kaitlyn, Evan and Blake) and Shannon (Mark) Della Valle. He is also survived by his siblings Dorothy Taylor, Gordon O’Brien and Pat (Evelyn) O’Brien as well as numerous loving nieces and nephews.

 He was predeceased by his wife Norma O’Brien; parents Roswell and Charolotte O’Brien; siblings and their spouses Irene (Arnold) Brearley, Ann (John) Tilston, Kay (Norman) Powell, Ruby Christine (Bill) Tilston, Della (Bill) Yuel, Earla (Howard) Smith and Lloyd (Jean) O’Brien; sister-in-law Vera O’Brien and brothers-in-law Ken Taylor and John Kerr.

 Rodger was born June 6, 1918 in Brandon, Manitoba to Roswell and Charlotte O’Brien. He served with the Canadian Navy from 1939 to 1945. Following his discharge from the Navy, Rodger worked for CP Rail as a conductor. He then went on to work for the United Transportation Union as Vice President. Rodger was proud of the fact that he lived in all the Canadian provinces, except Prince Edward Island.

 Rodger married his beloved wife of sixty nine years, Norma Hickson on August 5, 1941 in Saskatoon. Their love and commitment to each other, was an example to their children and grandchildren of what a marriage should be. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather whose loss will be felt for years to come.

 If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Rodger’s name may be made directly to the Knox United Church Memorial Fund, 4929 - 50 Avenue, Taber, Alberta T1G 1H7.