Charles Patrick O'Brien

Charles “Chuck” Patrick O’Brien died unexpectedly in his home on November 3rd, 2023, in Battle Creek, Michigan, at 62. 

He was born January 7, 1961, in Lowville, New York, to Charles and Jannette O’Brien. He graduated from Lowville Academy in 1979, Syracuse University in 1983 with a B.S. in Biology, and received his MBA from Clarkson University in 1993. 

Charles retired in 2017 after his 28-year-long career at the Kellogg Company. He continued to bring solutions to food companies across the USA in his “retirement,” leveraging his food science, contract manufacturing, and supply chain expertise. He recently ventured into the coffee world and maintained an interest in his family’s dairy business.

Chuck enjoyed a range of hobbies as a lifelong golfer, gardener, cigar lover, and whiskey connoisseur. He took to his interests with great passion, attention, and a genuine curiosity to learn. In his retirement, he frequented estate sales to continue his many collections, including a love for vinyl records that grew at an exponential rate. 

Chuck was a world-class host and cook; socializing and fellowship with others ranked among his favorite ways to pass his time.  He used his cherished smoker to cook divine cuts of meat to share a meal with loved ones and friends. Chuck never met a stranger and had an uncanny way of making people feel welcome. Chuck will be remembered for all the heart he shared with his friends and family. He was a steadfast friend and confidant to many. His wisdom, kind heart, and generosity were unparalleled. To say he will be missed is an understatement.

Chuck is survived by his children, Patrick O’Brien (Kendra Amman) and granddaughter Evelyn, Joseph O’Brien (Meagan O’Brien) and expectant Grandson, Gabrielle O’Brien (Michael Abu), the mother of his children, Anne Howley-O’Brien, his life and adventure partner of the last 16 years, Maria Honkanen, her children, and his step-children, Samuel and Sophia Honkanen, his mother, Jannette “Jean” O’Brien, and his siblings, Teresa O’Brien Ross (Kent), Sherry Tyrrell (Rod), Benjamin O’Brien (Leslie), and Daniel O’Brien (Tonya). Chuck is preceded in death by his father, Charles James O’Brien. 

Actually… he was kind of a big deal.

A visitation for Michigan family and friends will be held Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home in Battle Creek, MI, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life service at 4:00 p.m. 

A Mass of Christian Burial for New York family and friends will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 10:00 AM at St. Peter‘s Catholic Church, Lowville, New York, with Rev. Douglas Decker officiating. The family will receive guests immediately following mass. Burial will take place at a later date at Lowville Rural Cemetery. 

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