Lyle Byrne, 81, New Richland

Published 8:12 am Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Funeral services for Lyle (Fred) Byrne of New Richland will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland. The Rev. Swaminatha Pothireddy will officiate. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery. Visitation from was from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Friedrich Funeral Service in New Richland.

Lyle Byrne

Lyle Byrne died peacefully on Friday, April 26, 2013. He was 81 years old. Lyle was born on March 8, 1932, in West Otisco. The youngest son of Earl and Esther (Mortensen) Byrne he lived in Waseca County his whole life. After the death of his parents and four years of farm work, Lyle enlisted in the United States Air Force where he spent time in Texas and Kansas before returning home.

On Oct. 12, 1954, he was united in marriage to Mary Banashak in Wells. Together they had two children. Lyle spent time working around Wells and drove trucks for Shurson Trucking before settling down and working for Waseca County plowing snow, hauling gravel and running the road grader. He also spent time working as a firefighter, which he was very proud of.

At age 65 he decided it was time to retire and became a full time watchman, keeping an eye on New Richland. You would often see him driving around town, stopping to chat with anyone he knew. Lyle was a 30-year member of the New Richland Fire Department and of the American Legion where he was a past commander. He attended All Saints Catholic Church.

He was a wonderful father, grandfather and husband who liked to share his words of wisdom.

Lyle is survived by his children, Deb (Mike) Schmidt of Marshall and Brad (Kris) Byrne of Petaluma, Calif.; grandchildren, Rebecca Schmidt, Kristi Schmidt and Megan Schmidt, of Marshall and Nicole Marie Byrne and Jonathan Byrne of Petaluma; great-grandchild, Taylor Byrne; brothers, Harold (Grace) Byrne of Portland, Ore., and Richard (Betty) Byrne of Arizona; sisters-in-law, Katie Pfeifer of Waseca, LuEtta Banashak of Wells, Janette Byrne of Waterville, Lois Byrne of Waseca, and Leone Peterson of Otisco; nieces and nephews; and many other loving relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Esther; wife, Mary; and brothers, Art, Earl and Robert.

Lyle will be greatly loved and missed. Blessed be his memory!