Brian O’Donnell

Mr. Brian O’Donnell of Saukville, formerly of Pittsburg, Penn., passed away at Lawlis Family Hospice Center in Mequon following a valiant battle with cancer.  He was 64 years old.

Brian was born in Allentown, Penn., on Dec. 19, 1956, the son of Thomas O’Donnell and Catherine Hearon.

The family lived in Pennsylvania, New York and Illinois, a result of Thomas’ job with General Binding Corporation (GBC).

Brian graduated from high school in Deerfield, Ill., before he took a job with GBC that eventually landed him in Milwaukee.  

On March 28, 1987, Brian was united in marriage with Dawn Ladwig at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sheboygan. The couple moved to Saukville in 1990, where they raised their family of three sons.

Mr. O’Donnell worked at Kohler Co. as an engineering technician in new product development. He retired this April after 30 years on the job.  

Brian loved the challenge of repurposing items for uses they were never originally designed for, and he loved to “make something out of nothing.”  

He was a passionate golfer, and he loved playing pinball, arcade games and beating his sons at a game of pool.  Always athletic, Brian enjoyed playing softball and bowling in his younger years and playing various sports with his sons more recently.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Dawn of Saukville, sons Patrick of Madison, Collin of Milwaukee and Matthew of Saukville, brother Keven (Patricia) O’Donnell of Lake Villa, Ill., other family and many friends.

A gathering of remembrance will be held on Saturday, June 12, from noon to 3 p.m. at Eernisse Funeral Home, 1600 W. Grand Ave. in Port Washington.

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.