Charles "Chuck" F. O'Brien

Charles “Chuck” F. O’Brien Sr. 97, of Galesburg, Illinois, died peacefully at his home with his wife by his side, Friday, August 28, 2026.

Chuck was born September 24, 1928 in Galesburg, Illinois, to L. Fred and Charlotte (Reavy) O’Brien. Surviving are his wife, Carole C O’Brien of Galesburg, son, Chuck (Jan) O’Brien Jr., Galesburg, daughter, Angela (Dennis) James, Canton, Illinois, daughter, Lisa (Darren) Gardner, Canton, Illinois, son, Bradley (Michelle) O’Brien, Canton, Illinois, 9 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, 6 adult step children, 15 step grandchildren, 11 step great grandchildren.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, wife of nearly 50 years, Rosie, who passed away Dec. 20, 1997, brother, Doone, daughter, Rita Jane, granddaughter, Molly O’Brien and step great grandson, Taylor Hahn.

Chuck worked for the Postal Service as a young boy, delivering packages on his bicycle. At the age of 14, while still attending school, he became a Hot Foot for BNSF, later becoming a Tower Operator. He also attended college in Chillicothe MO, studying telegraphy. In the later part of the fifties, while working for BNSF, he also managed a bar, The Copa, for his brothers-in-law, Nunck, Frank, and Tony Mangieri. In 1960 he was on the ballot as a Democratic candidate for Coroner, but his move to London Mills in 1960, to begin yet another venture in his life, which resulted in his withdrawing from the possibility of that position, a decision he never regretted making, especially since the Democratic Party changed so drastically in recent years.

Chuck and Rosie owned and operated the C & R Market in London Mills for 28 years, where they made a tremendous number of lifetime friends as well as enjoying the help of their five kids and knowing they were giving their children the opportunity to learn the skills they would need later in their lives to enter the work world and become successful in their professions, as they all have done.

After retiring from the grocery store in 1987, Chuck and Rosie moved back to Galesburg where he went back to work again, this time working for Roger Bros. Wholesale Foods for 14 happy years as a food salesman and later as their commercial coffee machine repairman, retiring for a second time in 2002, where the then owner of McDonalds, Carol, held a private retirement party for him. In 1997 Chuck took a nine month leave of absence from work at Roger Bros., so he could take care of his wife of nearly 50 years, who succumbed later that year to her many years of battling cancer. Chuck was a loving father to his children and a devoted husband to Rosie and later to Carole, two very special women he felt tremendously blessed to have in his life.

Chuck enjoyed life, family, friends, fishing and gardening and was devoted to God and church. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a love of learning, devouring two to three newspapers daily for years and mastering how to use an iPad at the age of 85.

On July 21, 2000, Chuck married Carole Barker Hahn, who he met while attending a Democratic political rally at Cherry St. The first three years of their marriage Chuck and Carole lived at Lake Warren, Monmouth, Illinois, where they spent as much time as possible going fishing, going on pontoon rides and visiting with family, and friends they met at the lake. July 31, 2003, Chuck and Carole moved back to Galesburg and were blessed with moving close to neighbors who kept an eye on them to make sure they were okay and helped them in every way they could.

Chuck was a former member of The Moose Lodge for 30 years and the London Mills Fire Department for 28 years, also serving on the fire department as an ambulance driver, retiring as Captain of the fire department with his move back to Galesburg. He was a present member of The Knights of Columbus Council 556 and St. Patrick Catholic Church.

A brief time of visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 4, 2026 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Galesburg. The rosary will be prayed at 11:00 a.m. with the funeral mass following. Burial will take place at Abingdon Cemetery, Abingdon, Illinois. Memorials are to be given to St. Vincent DePaul Society and St. Patrick’s Church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.