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 Bolivia, 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.
I was fortunate to be paired with Dennis on an ASP trip to Flagpond, TN. His selfless giving was contagious. He was so good with the youth. I have a vision of Dennis in the parking lot of the school we were staying down on his knees, finger painting on big murals of paper with all the youth. It brought tears then as well as now. God Bless You, Dennis for ALL you gave to our church and community.
Your friends and colleagues at Iowa State thank you for the years of service and all the students, staff, and faculty you helped. You will not be forgotten.
ASP is saddened to learn of the passing of Dennis Byrne.
The commitment of volunteers like Dennis has helped to shape and mold the ministry into what it is today. We are so very grateful for the witness of service that Dennis shared while serving with the others from Collegiate UMC. The impact has been far reaching as well as immediately beneficial. Please accept our sincere condolences for the loss of your team member.
With blessings and peace.
We have fond memories of Dennis on the many youth mission trips we participated in together. On one trip to Arizona Dennis and a youth had an eating contest. It ending in a tie after double digit hamburgers were consumed!
God bless you Dennis, we will miss you.
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Ames, Iowa 50014
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