CHATHAM — Daniel Aaron O'Brien, 65, of Chatham, Illinois, passed away Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, at Springfield Memorial Hospital in Springfield. Dan was born March 16, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of James F. and Mary Jane Boyd O'Brien. Dan married Janet E. Kempainen on May 30, 1981, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his father and a sister, Kathy Myrvold. Dan was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Springfield. He was an Eagle Scout and served as scout executive for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Abraham Lincoln Council in Springfield for 24 years, retiring in 2020. Dan's 42-year career in scouting began after he graduated from Michigan Technological University in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in forestry. He was hired as a district executive at BSA's Lake Superior Council in Duluth, Minnesota, where he served from 1978 to 1986. He then moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, serving as an assistant scout executive from 1986 to 1996 at the BSA Anthony Wayne Area Council, before moving to Springfield. During his scouting career, Dan received many honors, including the 2021 Outstanding Eagle Scout Award from the National Eagle Scout Association and the 2020 Trailblazer Award from the Abraham Lincoln Council. He was a lifelong brother of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, a vigil member of the Order of the Arrow and a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Springfield South. Dan is survived by his wife, Janet, of Chatham; his mother, Mary Jane, of Sterling Heights, Michigan; four sons, Wesley (wife, Jaime) Corey of De Pere, Wisconsin, Chris (wife, Johanna) O'Brien of Springfield, Jeff (wife, Amanda) O'Brien of Alexandria, Virginia, and David (fiancée, Juli Sproules) O'Brien of Livingston Manor, New York; six grandchildren, Leah, Ava, Natasha, Edward, Calvin and Easton; two sisters, Maureen (husband, Tim) Mahoney of Northwood, Ohio, and Janice (husband, Tom) Frazho of Shelby Township, Michigan; six brothers, Pat (wife, Mary) O'Brien of Marine City, Michigan, Tim (wife, Lori) O'Brien of Commerce, Michigan, Dennis (wife, Elaine) O'Brien of Climax, Michigan, Bob (wife, Linda) O'Brien of Clinton Township, Michigan, and Jim (wife, Joanne) O'Brien of Sterling Heights, Michigan; brother-in-law Greg Myrvold of Oakland, Michigan; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A virtual celebration of life service was held at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. To watch a recording of the service, use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Rxu84uMmltdHP1bvfzXQTLoSWkC9qEmhxFZFLssoqvHBjcARVx1u3xbrhYAtRsUs.PDUYccMX6MT6ifcY. The passcode is K6uAPk5&. Please note that the service starts about 1 hour, 27 minutes into the recording. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the BSA Abraham Lincoln Council, 5231 S. Sixth St. Road, Springfield, IL 62703, or to Polio Plus, c/o Rotary South Foundation, 2763 S. Sixth St. Springfield, IL 62703. Curry Funeral Home in Pawnee is serving the family of Dan O'Brien. Online condolences may be expressed at www.curryfh.com.