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Dennis Heathman Byrne (1948-2013)

BYRNE, HEATHMAN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 9/22/2013 at 01:12:51

From Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care obituary, Ames, Story County, Iowa:

Dennis Heathman Byrne, age 65, died at Northcrest Retirement Community in Ames on September 21, 2013. Dennis was born May 31, 1948, in Lawrence, Kansas, the son of George R. Byrne, Jr., and Cleo (Heathman) Byrne. He grew up in the Northeast Kansas town of McLouth. He attended the University of Kansas and received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. He entered the Peace Corps and served in Peru, traveling extensively in South America. He did a postdoctoral with the Smithsonian Research Center in Rockville, Maryland. Dennis was later employed by the USDA in Beltsville, Maryland, before deciding to take another postdoctoral position as a research scientist at Iowa State University in 1987. He retired from Iowa State in 2000.

Dennis was active in both his church and community. He spent many weekends helping build homes with Habitat For Humanity. He also participated in many events and organizations whose goal was to feed the hungry. At Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation, he was a head usher and was committed to missions, spending his vacation time every year traveling with groups to poverty stricken areas in this country and Mexico, helping to build concrete block homes and repair existing homes. He was a faithful servant of the church, quietly doing any work that needed done both at the church and for others in the family of faith.

Dennis is survived by one brother, Charles E. Byrne, of Fairhope, AL, a niece Cindy Byrne of Cliffside, NC, a nephew David of Kansas City, KS, and his church family at Collegiate United Methodist Church. He will also be warmly remembered by staff and residents of Northcrest Retirement Community, where he resided for the last three years of his life.

A celebration of Dennis' life will take place at Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames on Saturday, September 28, at 10:30 A.M. Lunch will follow immediately after the service in Wesley Hall at the church. Dennis chose to have his body donated to Des Moines University for educational purposes.

Memorials may be directed to Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation.
Online condolences may be directed to: www.grandonfuneraland cremationcare.com.

http://www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com/
 

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