John Kenneth O’Brien, was born to, John and Jessica O’Brien on October 11, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York and died on January 31, 2024 in Reno, Nevada.

He moved with his parents to Long Island, NY when he was 5. He attended Catholic School through High School. He then went on to attend Villanova University.

He resided in several areas of NY until 1970. He then moved with his family to pursue job opportunities in Annapolis, MD, Naperville, IL, Laguna Niguel, CA, and Blue Springs, MO. He eventually returned to the place he called home, Maryland. In March of 2023 Ken moved to Reno, Nevada to be closer to family.

Ken worked with Montgomery Wards Food Service for a majority of his career. In 1985 he decided to go out on his own and opened Chicken Galore N More in Mission Viejo, CA. After a few years of hard work and dedication, he decided to close the doors and continue in other food service opportunities, as well as consulting.

Ken enjoyed boating, skiing, tennis and watching sports, especially college sports. He enjoyed texting his college age grandkids about the game results of their perspective schools. Ken coached and was a vivacious spectator at his children’s sporting events. He was notorious for sending articles of all kinds to his kids, grandkids and friends to read. Ken had a love for dogs. He had a St. Bernard and then a Black Lab. He was extremely fond of Diddy and Scout, his daughter’s dogs.

John was proceeded in death by his parents, John and Jessica. He is survived by his children: James O’Brien, Kaaren (O’Brien) Abbate and her husband John Abbate, Gerald O’Brien and his wife Danielle (Jarvis) O’Brien, and Susan O’Brien, and his grandchildren: Matthew Abbate, Kathryn Abbate, Andrew Abbate, Brendan O’Brien, Colin O’Brien, Tatum O’Brien, Piper O’Brien and Van O’Brien. He is also survived by 3 cousins: Brian Keating, Barry Hoffman and Timothy Flood.

We would like to thank Johnathan Perryman from Sierra Nevada Home Health in Reno. He and his staff went above and beyond in their care for Ken. Also, Nathan Brimm, of Dignified Aging Strategies. Nathan was pivotal in providing information, collaborating between the hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and Kaaren. He made himself available at all hours.

There will be a private funeral mass and burial on March 23, 2024. Ken will be laid to rest in the Garden of Saint Francis at the Mountain View Cemetery in Reno, Nevada.

In honor of Ken’s family’s long history of Catholicism, donations can be made in memory of him at: https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/join-in-this-mission/DON-USA-RGM-15.html

Please email, sarah.richards@dynamiccatholic.com, if you would like to specify the donation in Ken’s memory.