Eileen Rossman O’Brien, 92, Kasson

Eileen O’Brien, 92, died on Friday, April 22, 2016. 
 Eileen Rossman was born on Sept. 6, 1923 at White Lake, South Dakota to Leo and Elizabeth (Wagner) Rossman.  
Her family moved to Minnesota near Rochester in 1931. She graduated from eighth grade at County School Dist. 106 and graduated from St. John’s Catholic High School in 1941.  In September of 1944, she and her sister Margaret enlisted in the Navy WAVES.  They took their basic training at Hunter College in New York, their hospital training at Bethesda, Maryland, and then were assigned to the Naval Hospital at Corpus Christi, Texas as hospital corpsmen.  They were honorably discharged in April 1946 as Pharmacists 2/C.
On May 7, 1947, Eileen was married to Francis O’Brien at St. John’s Catholic Church in Rochester by Fr. Louis O’Day.  The couple farmed in Byron and Kasson area. They had 10 children.
Eileen is survived by her loving husband Francis, children: Kathleen (Leonard) Carlson of New Brighton, Rose (Loren) Nienow of Plainview, Frances Ann Thorpe of Kasson, Bonnie (Stephen) Kalmes of Rollingstone, Teresa (Randy) Ness of Kasson, Thomas (Chris) O’Brien of Dodge Center, Patrick (Emma) O’Brien of Kasson, John (Lisa) O’Brien of Rochester, Mary (Ronald) Whiteaker of Kasson, 22 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, brother William (Sylvia) Rossman of Eyota, sisters Ann (William) Herman of Red Bluff, California, Mary Rossman, Patricia (Harlan) Hebig, brother-in-law John Daywitt and sister-in-law Virginia Rossman all of Rochester.  
She was preceded in death by her parents, son Tim, great-granddaughter Katherine Gillis, brother Robert Rossman and sisters Margaret Jones and Rita Daywitt.
She was a charter member of Christ the King and was very active in church affairs.  She was very dedicated to saying the Rosary before mass.  Eileen was a dedicated wife and mother.  She loved family gatherings and all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  
She and Francis loved old time and square dancing.  Her chocolate chip cookies and vegetable beef soup were family favorites.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated for Eileen Rossman O’Briend at 11 a.m. on May 7 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 202 4th St NW, Byron with Rev. Paul Surprenant officiating.  Burial will be in St. Margaret’s Cemetery in Mantorville.  Visitation will be at Christ the King Catholic Church on May 6 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and one hour before the services at the church.  Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 6.    
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Christ the King Church or St. Margaret’s Cemetery. 
Dibble Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kasson, 507-634-2331, is in charge of arrangements.  Condolences may be shared at www.dibblefuneralhome.com.