Paul John O'Brien

In Loving Memory of
Paul John O'Brien
1958 - 2022

It is with extreme sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Paul John O'Brien, D.O., 63, of Kansas City on May 6, 2022. He touched the lives of many and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Paul was born on October 4, 1958 to George and Norma (Barlow) O'Brien at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He graduated from St. Pius X in Kansas City, MO in 1976.

Paul served our country in the United States Army from 1976 to 1979. He completed his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was then stationed in Okinawa, Japan before returning back to Fort Meade, MD, where he met Patricia Fleckner. They married in Annapolis, MD courthouse on February 14, 1979. He was honorably discharged from the Army in August 1979 and ended his military career as an E4 specialist working as an Intelligence Analyst.

Paul went on to achieve his Bachelor of Arts in Biology at the University of Toledo in Toledo, OH in 1984. He was then accepted into Ohio University's College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens, OH. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine medical degree in 1988. He completed his internship at Brentwood Hospital in Warrensville Heights, OH the following year. He then went on to complete further medical education as an Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident at Flint Osteopathic Hospital in Flint, MI in 1992 before accepting a position in Genesee, MI as a Family Practice Physician. He achieved his Board Certification in Family Practice in 1999. He went on to open his own Family Medicine Practice, Paul J. O'Brien, DO, PLC in Flushing, MI in 2002 and also served as a physician in the communities of Holly, MI, Terre Haute, IN and Crawfordsville, IN throughout his medical career.

He retired from the medical profession in 2018 and followed his love for the water to Florida where he purchased a sailboat and learned to sail, which had been a lifelong dream for him. In 2020, he settled back in Kansas City, MO to be near his brothers and family.

Paul was a simple man who enjoyed spending time with his family and loved ones. He was extremely proud of his five children and their accomplishments. He especially loved getting daily pictures and videos of his four grandchildren and watching them grow and learn. He also knew how to tell a good "dad joke."

While stationed in Okinawa, Japan he developed a love for scuba diving and all things related to the ocean. He loved boating. He also enjoyed building hobby model kits, especially military airplanes and figurines. He would regularly spend weekends at the airport watching the aircraft come and go. And he always had to start his day with a cup of black Starbucks coffee.

He loved to read and learn. He knew every current event and frequently sent news update to his family and friends to make sure they stayed up to date on current events, whether they wanted to or not.

Paul is survived by his ex-wife, Patricia O'Brien, and their 5 children together: Paul (41), Maureen (39), Katherine (35), Patrick (31), and Kevin (26) and 4 grandchildren: Chloe (5), Alexis (3), Cameron (3), and Landon (2), as well as his brothers, George and Roger O'Brien and their wives and children.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents, George and Norma O'Brien.

Paul was a truly compassionate man who saw the best in everyone. He was generous and kind and would give the shirt off his back to help anyone in need. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

To leave a message of condolence for Paul's family, or to share a special memory, please visit the guestbook below.