Obit: O’Brien, Diana Gale (1939 – 2005)
Poster:  Dolores Mohr
Email:  eldolken@potc.net

Surname: O’Brien, Black Hawk, Red Eagle, Cummings

Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson County, Wis.) June 8, 2005

O’Brien, Diana Gale (13 May 1939 – 2 June 2005)

Diana G O’Brien, age 66, of Black River Falls died Thursday, June 2, 2005, in Black River Memorial Hospital.

The former Diana Gale Red Eagle was born May 13, 1939, at Tomah to Guy and Adelaide (Black Hawk) Red Eagle. She was raised at Baraboo, Black River Falls, and the Dells Dam area in Clark County.

Diana graduated from Neillsville High School and later studied to become a registered nurse. She also received her master’s degree from Portland State University.

She married Robert O’Brien in 1968 in Seattle, WA. In addition to having lived in Seattle, the couple also lived in Portland, OR. They were divorced in 1972.

Diana lived in Portland until 1996 when she returned to the Neillsville area and then Black River Falls. While living in Portland, Diana was employed as a registered nurse at the Good Samaritan Hospital. Upon returning to Wisconsin she was employed by the Tribal Aging Unit of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

She was a member of the Andrew-Black Hawk American Legion Post 129 Auxiliary Unit. Diana loved music.

Surviving is her son, Byron O’Brien of Redwood City, CA; a brother, Douglas (Barbara) Red Eagle of Dells Dam (Neillsville); and other relatives and friends.

Preceding Diana in death are her mother Adelaide, and a sister Janice (Red Eagle) Cummings.

Funeral services were held Sunday, June 5, 2005, at 12 p.m. from the District One Community Center and burial was in Decorah Cemetery, both in rural Black River Falls. Donald Black Hawk officiated.

Family and friends were invited for visitation Sunday from 10 a.m. until noon at the Community Center.

The Buswell Funeral Home (www.buswellfuneralhome.com), Black River Falls, assisted the family with arrangements.