Thomas Allen O'Brien

Thomas “Tom” Allen O’Brien, 66, of Newton died on Monday, October 9, 2023, at MercyOne Newton Medical Center. A visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m., Friday, October 20, 2023, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Memorials in Tom’s name (checks made payable to Karen Garr) may be left at the funeral home.

Tom, the son of Lawrence and Madeline (Berquist) O’Brien, was born on August 8, 1957 in Hood River, Oregon. He grew up in Oregon and Alaska before moving to Ferguson, Iowa around the age of 10.  Tom graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1976.  On June 12, 1980, Tom was united in marriage with Pamela Garr at the Ashton Chapel.  They made their home in Newton, Crawfordsville, LaPorte City and Mount Auburn before returning to Newton over 20 years ago. Tom worked many years in hog confinements but later worked and retired from Jeldwin in Grinnell.  He loved to spend time hunting, fishing, and being with his grandchildren.

Tom is survived by his wife, Pam O’Brien of Newton; children, Jennie (Nour) Salman of Marshalltown and Dustin O’Brien of Newton; two grandchildren, Najib and Rofida Salman; his “son” Alex Meador of Newton; siblings, Brenda O’Brien of Story City, Donna O’Brien of Marshalltown, and Duffy O’Brien of Ferguson; and a lifelong friend, Bob Wilson of Newton. He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence O’Brien; mother and step-father, Madeline and Alvia Garr; his sister, Dora O’Brien; brothers, Ken, Frank, John, and Jim O’Brien; and a special friend, Stuart Allspach.

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