Joann J. O’Brien
June 24, 1935 – June 2, 2020
TOPEKA — Joann J. O’Brien, Overbrook, died Tuesday, June 2, 2020, at Midland Hospice House, Topeka. She was 84.
She was born June 24, 1935, in Topeka, the daughter of Earl and Gertie Avey Barngrover. Joann was raised in the Wakarusa community and lived in Overbrook since 1969.
Joann worked for Social Security for several years. She was a founding member of Grace Community Church, in Overbrook, where she was a Sunday school teacher, part of the Card Ministry and Pocket Cross. She was a member of Topeka Ski Club, Red Hat Ladies and Overbrook Pride.
She married Wayne O’Brien June 20, 1969, in Pauline. He preceded her in death on May 27, 2019.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Jamie Ullery, on Jan. 18, 2013; a grandson, Alex O’Brien; her parents, Earl and Gertie; and two sisters, Maureen Waetzig and Glee Reed.
Joann is survived by three children, Kim Davis, Scranton, and Kimberly O’Brien and Patrick O’Brien, both of Lawrence; a brother, Richard Barngrover, Topeka; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6, at Grace Community Church, Overbrook. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services. Burial will follow at Overbrook Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Hospice House or Overbrook PRIDE (for a memorial bench in memory of Joann and Wayne), and sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451.
Condolences may be expressed at feltnerfuneralhome.com.
