- Date Of Birth: January 8, 1926
- Date Of Death: October 30, 2008
- State: Illinois
Yvonne (Vonnie) O’Brien Tabb, 82, of Galesburg, died October 30, 2008 at home.
Vonnie was born on January 8, 1926 in Abingdon to John P. and Ethel McBride Uhlman. She married Leo F. O’Brien on June 14, 1947 in Galesburg. Leo preceded her in death in 1968 and Vonnie later married Claire Tabb, who died in 1986.
Vonnie is survived by her four children; Kate O’Brien (Will) Reed of Ogden, UT, John F. (Karlene) O’Brien of Gilson, Nancy P. O’Brien of Urbana, and Megan O’Brien (Jim) Clayton of Knoxville, five grandchildren, her sister June (Ray) Karsmizski, and two brothers, Leon (Alice) Uhlman and Dale Uhlman. Two brothers and three sisters preceded her in death.
She attended Galesburg High School and graduated from Brown’s Business College.
Vonnie was the first woman and one of the first Democrats ever elected to office in Knox County, winning the race for County Clerk in 1970. She was re-elected for five subsequent terms, retiring in 1994. She served as an Illinois delegate at the 1980 Democratic National Convention.
She belonged to many service clubs and organizations including Exchange Club, Pilot Club, Garden Club, Knox County Extension Council, Knox County Democrats, Democratic Women of Knox County, and Friends of the Galesburg Public Library. She was a founding member of AMONDATA, was a reading buddy and belonged to several bridge clubs. She was never too busy to volunteer, working at library booksales, passing out flags at parades and helping to raise money for many local causes.
Vonnie was an avid gardener and loved being outdoors. She was very artistic and sewed, painted, knitted, and crocheted. She also loved cooking, reading, collecting antiques, spending time with her family, and relaxing with her evening martini. She helped her husband Claire build their farm house in Gilson. She liked to travel but was happiest at home, where there was always good food, good conversation, and fresh flowers.
Her children adored her and are incredibly proud of her as a mother and a person. Vonnie was an uncommon woman (her retirement gift from her co-workers was a much longed for hot air balloon ride) and one of her last activities was filling out her absentee ballot. There were always glow-in-the-dark stars on her ceiling, prisms hanging in her sunniest windows, and birdfeeders scattered throughout her yard. We hope she will be remembered with love and laughter.
