William John OBrien

William John OBrien passed away peacefully on March 24, 2011. Bill was born April 11, 1928, to John and Irene OBrien in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1945. He worked summers for the U.S. Forest Service while earning his bachelor's degree at the University of Iowa at Ames. He finalized his degree in forestry after serving as a Korean War era veteran.

His career spanned 35 years with the U.S. Forest Service. He worked as a District Ranger in Lolo, Mont.; Sandpoint; and Trout Creek, Mont., before retiring in Libby, Mont., in 1982 as an environmental planner. He drove stock horses and mules over mountainous terrain early in his career, fought wild land fires throughout the West, including the renowned Sundance fire, and worked extensively on environmental issues with the state historical preservation office and Kootenai Tribe.

While retired, he was an environmental consultant for the Hopi Tribe in Arizona before moving to Hayden. He was an avid downhill skier, enjoying the sport well into his 70s.

Bill was a loving husband, father and grandfather, survived by his wife of 54 years, Agnes Marie (Ame) and their son, Tim and wife Joann of California; daughter, Carolyn Mita and husband Roy of Colorado and granddaughter Kathleen; son, Mark and wife Sarah of Nevada and granddaughters Alison and Leslie; and son, Bruce and partner Jocelyn Eastham of Montana. He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother Robert OBrien of Iowa.

In honor of Bill, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Disabled Sports USA at www.dsusa.org for adaptive ski programs for the blind.

A visitation was held Wednesday, March 30, at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. 4th St. in Coeur d'Alene, with a Vigil service to follow at 7 p.m., also at the funeral chapel. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 31, at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 919 E. Indiana Ave., Cd'A - with burial to follow at St. Thomas Catholic Church.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to English Funeral Chapel. Please visit Bill's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.