C. William “Bill” O’Brien

June 10, 1936 - April 19, 2021

LASALLE, Colo. — C. William “Bill” O’Brien, age 84, of La Salle, passed away at his home surrounded in love on Monday, April 19, 2021. Bill was born on June 10, 1936, in Nebraska, to John J. and Kathryn V. (Sullivan) O’Brien. 

In his youth, Bill was an Eagle Scout and gifted athlete. Bill attended McCook High School where he was an exceptional three sport athlete. After his graduation in 1954, he went on to become an All American footballer, standout basketball player and track and field athlete at McCook Junior College in Nebraska. He also played basketball at the University of Nebraska, before completing his degree in 1961 at Colorado State College (now known as the University of Northern Colorado). While his accomplishments were many, few people knew about them because Bill was a very humble man. 

It took a special woman, Patricia Lou Rolfs, to win his heart. The couple met in college physiology class when she was 18 and he was 20. Both were in relationships at the time, but Patti wooed him with the remains from a turtle dissection assignment. She polished the leftover shell and gave it to him as an ashtray. He must have liked the gift because the couple married on Sept.6, 1958 in Elkhorn, Neb., and stayed together for the next 63 years.

Together, they had Patrick, who died at childbirth, Michael, Michelle, Melissa, and Michaela. Bill and Patti lived in Greeley, Platteville, and in the country west of Gilcrest before spending most of their years in their dream home located on a large lot in La Salle, where they raised their kids. Bill passed down his love of sports to his children, and as a family, they would take road trips to the Colorado Mountains, South Dakota and Nebraska. 

Professionally, Bill was a psychology and business teacher at Valley High School in Gilcrest for 32 years, after teaching his first year in Nebraska. He was usually seen carrying around the same stainless steel thermos full of black coffee, walking so fast that others had to jog to keep up with him. Whenever he had to correct a student, he did so with encouraging words and a warm smile. (Bill greeted everyone with a smile.) At Valley, he was the head basketball coach for five years and was an assistant coach for the basketball, football, and baseball teams for 20 years. Natural fair-mindedness made him the right fit for the job. He also ran the migrant school P.E. program and the Platteville recreation program for a few years and drove the school bus for 31 years. 

Retirement did not slow Bill down. He could be spotted riding on the back of the trash truck to help the garbage men out each week, just because. Bill was a fierce crossword puzzler and newspaper reader, and he enjoyed Ellery Queen, James A. Michener, John Grisham, and Louis L’Amour novels. Grandkids, chasing down foul balls at the ball fields, picking up trash around the neighborhood, or handing out Tootsie Rolls at sporting events also filled his days.

Bill was a board member of McCook National Bank Financial Services and was also a member of the Colorado Education Association, Colorado High School Coaches Association, the Denver Zoo, the Museum of Natural History, and the Red Feather Fire Association. He was honored by the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports, and was a proud blood donor.

Bill will be remembered as a gracious and humble man with silent strength that led by example. He never complained and never criticized. Family was the most important thing to Bill. Helping others filled his heart and his life’s motto was, “Just enjoy every day.”

Bill is survived by his wife, Patti O’Brien; son, Michael (Rebecca) O’Brien; daughters, Michelle (Paul) Chacon, Melissa (David) Eckhardt, and Michaela (David) Smith; grandchildren, Jamie O’Brien (Zach Belloni), Jessie O’Brien, Courtney Chacon, Brendan Chacon, Devin (Colten) Foster, Brynn (Austin) Brunz, Delaney Eckhardt, Chelsea Smith, Samantha Smith, Madison (Mason) Richardson, Alisha Gallegos, and Tommy Gallegos; great-granddaughters, Willow Smith, Charlie Foster, Collins Foster, and Eden Gallegos; great-grandson, Sebastian Gallegos; and Baby Brunz arriving in September 2021; former daughter-in-law, Denise O’Brien; brother-in-law, Allan Rolfs; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews and his McCook National Bank Family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Kathryn (Sullivan) O’Brien; son, Charles Patrick O’Brien; aunt, Helen McCluskey; sisters-in-law,Bonnie Rolfs and Marcia Rolfs; brother-in-law, Delmar Rolfs; and by his dear cousin, Dr. Robert Behrns.

Visitation was at Allnutt Funeral & Cremation - Macy on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, from 5-7 p.m. Mass of Christian burial was 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 29, 2021, at St. Peter Catholic Church. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bill O’Brien Memorial in the care of Allnutt Funeral Service, Macy Chapel, 6521 W. 20th Street, Greeley, CO 80634. The funds will be gifted to Valley High School Athletics and St. Patrick School in McCook.