G. Michael "Mike" O'Brien

1936 - 2026

G. Michael “Mike” O’Brien was received into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, January 10, 2026. Having been fortified at home with the Sacrament of the Sick, he passed away unexpectedly in the arms of his wife, Bonnie, and son, Tim.

Mike was the beloved husband of Bonnie for 61 years. He was the loving father of Timothy (Jenny) O’Brien, Daniel (Beth) O’Brien, and Erin (John) Wright; and the proud "Granddad" of Adam, Rosie, Isabel, Lucy, and Emmeline. He was the dear brother-in-law of Pat (Dave) Lindsay, Kathy (Gene) Cunningham, and Joan O’Brien, and a dearest uncle, cousin, godfather, and friend to many.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Emma O’Brien, and his siblings: Rita Burns, Pat Cawood, Naomi Kannady, Tom O’Brien, and Jim O’Brien.

In his youth, Mike and his brother Jim served innumerable Masses at St. Alphonsus (Rock) Church. A proud graduate of St. Joseph’s Redemptorist Seminary College in Kirkwood, Mike continued his education at the Missouri School of Mines in Rolla. He began his professional career as an engineer and manager at Southwestern Bell, a role he held as he and Bonnie began their life together. While living in Hutchinson, Kansas, they raised their sons at Holy Cross before returning to St. Louis in 1976.

A lifelong scholar and proponent of education, Mike passed his faith and academic interests to his children-notably his love of Latin and Greek to Tim and Dan, and his affinity for engineering and architecture to Erin.

His Catholic devotion was the cornerstone of his life. Mike attained the Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus and served alongside Bonnie as a Marriage Encounter Executive Couple, leading weekend retreats for many years. A man of many talents, he sang in the Ascension choir since 1977 and shared his love of learning by recording audiobooks for the incarcerated. Friends and family will remember Mike as a gentle, loving man of God.

Services: A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Ascension Catholic Church on Friday, January 23rd, at 10:00 am. The interment ceremony will follow in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.  Ad maiorem Dei gloriam. If moved to make a donation, please send to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at Ascension Church in Chesterfield, MO.

As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, please share memories of Mike and condolences with the family in the online guestbook at Schrader.com.