Storke Funeral Home Obituaries

John “Jack” Joseph O’Brien, Jr, age 79 of Dahlgren, VA, passed away peacefully with family by his side on May 2, 2023.

Jack was born at Ft. McPherson in Atlanta, GA on August 1, 1943, to John Joseph and Blanche Arlene O’Brien.  He grew up in Amesbury, MA and was the oldest of seven very close siblings. After graduating from Amesbury High School, he attended UMass Amherst and then started working as a submarine pipe fitter at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire. On August 3, 1968, Jack married Virginia “Ginny” Lee Gilmore in Kittery, ME.  Jack and Ginny moved to Dahlgren, VA in 1971 when Jack took a job as a contracting officer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, where he worked until his retirement in 2004. He and Ginny enjoyed life in King George for 52 years, raising their three daughters and then spending time with their grandkids, who Jack found to be delightful. Family was the most important thing to Jack, and Jack’s siblings always looked forward to his annual summer visits to Amesbury. His family will always remember his love of doo-wop music, NASCAR races, whistling, and reading the newspaper.

Jack is survived by his wife, Ginny; daughters Kristine Redlien (Corey) of Stamford, CT, Amy Holdcroft (Michael) of Woodbridge, VA, and Katie O’Brien of Lincoln, NE; 8 grandchildren: Quinton and Lane Redlien, and Jack, Justin, Ella, Disu, Naka and Lily Holdcroft; siblings Mary Lou Tremblay of Beverly, MA, Richard O’Brien (Sue) of Amesbury, MA, Ann Hebert (Emile) of Amesbury, MA, Peggy Twombly (Gerry) of North Hampton, NH, Julie O’Brien (Wally) of Merrimack, NH, and Tom O’Brien (Mary Ellen) of Haverhill, MA; brother-in-law Bob Gilmore of Gardiner, ME; 16 nieces and nephews; and many dear friends and neighbors.

Jack was preceded in death by his brother-in-law Clem Tremblay and sister-in-law Betty Jo Gilmore.

Visiting hours will be from 2-4pm Sunday, May 7, with a service following at 4pm, at Storke Funeral Home, 11089 James Madison Pkwy, King George, VA 22485. Burial will follow in Amesbury, MA later this spring.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the King George Animal Rescue League at https://www.kgarl.org.

Storke Funeral Home, King George is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.storkefuneralhome.com.