Dale Byrnes

Dale M. Byrnes, 75, of Waukon, IA, passed away Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon surrounded by his family. Memorial services will be held Friday, November 15th, at 12:00 PM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr.  Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial with military honors will be at St. Mary's Hanover Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM Thursday at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 3:30 PM scripture service. The service will also be live streamed on the church's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stpatswaukon/

Dale Mark Byrnes was born December 31, 1948, in Waukon, IA, to Clem and Jeanne (Delaney) Byrnes. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hanover, rural Waukon. Dale went to country school in Hanover for eight years, he spent the next year at St. Patrick's School in Waukon, and for the rest of his school years he attended the public schools in Waukon, where he had one of his first jobs driving school bus his senior year. He graduated WHS in 1967.

After graduation, he worked a few months in Cedar Rapids, IA, before joining the Army that same year. He attended lineman's school at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He then went to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, undergoing Special Forces Training. Upon completion, he received the prestigious degree of becoming a Green Beret. The rest of his military years were spent at Fort Bragg until being discharged from the service in December of 1970.

In 1971, he completed deep-sea diving training in Oakland, California, the only deep-sea diving school in the world. The next two years he worked as an underwater technician in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dale left Louisiana and moved to North Carolina, working for Time Warner Television until he retired. It was in North Carolina that he met and married Celeste Brady in 1991, parting ways in 2020. Through his stepson Brad, he became a grandpa to his only grandkids: Jessica and Dylan Smith.

He came back to Iowa in 2020, and bought a house in Waukon. He loved returning to his country roots and being close to his brother Jim and two sisters Noreen and Connie; he spent many days helping his brother Jim. Dale also loved to help his nephew Dustin with farm work and enjoyed driving tractor again. To him, these things were a source of enjoyment and not thought of as work.

Dale had a very strong and deep-rooted faith, which meant very much to him. His love of God, church, and country were very evident. He was a member of Jordan Memorial United Methodist Church while in North Carolina and after returning home, was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon.

Survivors include a brother Jim (Pat) Byrnes of Waukon; two sisters: Noreen (Vince) Koch of Cedar Rapids, and Connie (Mitch) Harmsen of Osceola, IA; his two grandchildren: Jessica and Dylan Smith of Harpenden, England; his very dear friend Olivia Bell; and his faithful dog Baby. He is also survived by 11 nephews and seven nieces, in addition to four great-nephews and 10 great-nieces with one on the way, which he was anticipating. Though he had no grandchildren close by, Dale was very loved and adored as the best uncle ever.

He was preceded in death by his parents Clem and Jeanne; his sister Sharon and her two husbands: Robert Kobusch and Bob Blaser; nephew Jared Byrnes; four infant nephews: Nicholas Paul Byrnes, Travis Michael Bulman, Kevin Koch, and Quinn Robert Schoberel; and once niece Kimberly Koch. He was also preceded in death by all of his aunts and uncles.

Honorary urnbearers are Heath, Dustin, and Nick Byrnes, Mike, Robb, Chris, and Andy Kobusch, Travis Bulman, Brandon, Ryan, and Zach Harmsen, Garrett Byrnes, and Silas Byrnes.