Connie O'Brien

Connie Louise (Ekblad) O'Brien 

Connie O’Brien, 76, of Brainerd, passed into her heavenly home on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at All Saints Senior Living in Shakopee after a valiant battle with Alzheimer’s disease. 

Connie Louise Ekblad was born in Willmar on November 14, 1947, to Elmond and Ione Ekblad. She graduated from Willmar Senior High School in 1965 and went on to attend Willmar Community College and St. Mary’s College in Minneapolis, where she earned a degree in nursing. 

She married her husband, Michael O'Brien, on September 28, 1974, at Long Lake Lutheran Church, a one-room chapel with no electricity near Willmar. They settled in Robbinsdale and raised two sons, Kevin and Colin. 

In 1982, Connie and Mike purchased a cabin on Lower South Long Lake in Brainerd, which became their retirement home and a source of many cherished memories over the decades. 

A passionate and patient caregiver, Connie worked as a registered nurse in various facilities, including Hennepin County Detox and North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, where she served for 30 years in the emergency room. 

Connie loved to sing and was a member of many church choirs over the years. She also enjoyed sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, bowling, walking and gardening. She and Mike were avid golfers and she once scored a hole-in-one. 

Over the years, she gave back to her community in many capacities. She coordinated and delivered Dinner at Your Door in the Robbinsdale-Crystal area and volunteered at Habitat for Humanity in Brainerd. 

Connie was a devout Christian who loved the Lord and was a heavily involved member of Elim Lutheran Church in Robbinsdale for many years, singing in the choir and serving as a confirmation teacher and church council member. She will be dearly missed by all those who knew her and will always be remembered for her easy laugh, sunny outlook and generous spirit. 

Connie is survived by her husband of 50 years, Mike; sons Kevin O’Brien, Colby, Wis., and Colin (Karla) O’Brien, Shakopee; two beloved granddaughters, Bailey and Morgan; stepchildren Tracie Jefferson and Shawn O’Brien, Champlin; and step-grandchildren Kole, Myles and Brea. She is further survived by her sisters, Wendy (Evan) Sorvik, Moose Lake; and LeeAnn (Deane) Neal, Spicer; nieces, Kathryn (David) Haase, Murdock, and Kim (Jordan) Fischer, Prior Lake; and nephew, Jon (Katie) Neal, Maple Grove. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and daughter-in-law, Linda O'Brien. 

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 11 a.m., with visitation at 10 a.m. 

In lieu of gifts, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association.