William H. O'Brien

O'Brien, 65, was born April 3, 1946, in Chicago, to William O'Brien and Nellie Gizevich O'Brien and died suddenly Aug. 2, 2011, at his home in Arlington Heights. "Big Bill" was a proud south-sider, graduating from St. Rita High School as a member of the championship basketball team and receiving a scholarship to play for the then Division 1 Loyola University in New Orleans. It was there that he met the love of his life, Bonnie Matetich, whom he married on Aug. 16, 1969, in Fort Worth, Texas. He then went on to receive an MBA from Loyola University, Chicago. Bill had many loves in his life. He loved to work and to meet amazing people from all over the world, and his international sales career spanned Shell Oil Company, Siemens, Searle and Rauland Borg Corporation. He loved sports, and he never missed one of his daughter's or grandchildren's games. He loved his family, always having fun with them and bringing out the best in each of them. And Bill loved retirement, allowing him to spend time with his wonderful dog, Skittles, and meet all of the dogs and people that would become a special part of his daily life as the "Mayor of Dogville." He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; daughter, Anne (Andrew) Scharm of Naperville; his cherished grandchildren, Jacob, Caitlin and Carter Scharm; brothers, John (Vicki) O'Brien of Oak Brook and David O'Brien of Baltimore; Uncle Al Antonowitz of Chicago; Aunt Lydia Gizevich of Denison, Iowa, cousin, Stanley (Erica) Gizevich of Palos Hills, Ill.; and in-laws, Aunt Dorothy Matetich of Dallas, Texas, Mike Matetich of Austin, Texas, Marti (John) Burns of Bastrop, Texas, Rick (Janet) Matetich of Austin, Texas, Mary Ann (Jeff) Waddell, of Arlington, Texas, Colleen (Alan) Vera of Houston, Texas, Kelly (George) Alexander of Keller, Texas, Jill O'Brien of Countryside, Ill.; and 12 nieces and nephews and many grandnieces and nephews. Visitation will be Friday Aug. 5, from 3 to 9 p.m. at Lauterburg & Oehler Funeral Home, 2000 E. Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights. Prayers will be said Saturday, Aug. 6, at 8:45 a.m. at the funeral home, continuing to Our Lady of the Wayside Church, 440 S. Mitchell, Arlington Heights for funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Palatine, Ill. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested in Bill's name to The Buddy Foundation, 65 W Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or Clearbrook, 1835 W. Central Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005.