George Byrne, Professor and Mathematician
George Dennis Byrne, 91, died on Sunday, September 29, 2024, after recently entering hospice care at Archwood Senior Living Center. He is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Normandie Joan (Glazewski); his younger brother, Terence Edward; three daughters, Elizabeth Mary (David) Hensley, Margaret Ann (Hugh) Mixon and Karen Frances (Orson) Wang, and four sons, Stephen Alphonsus, Michael Robert (Sharon), David George and Mark John, as well as 11 grandchildren and two nephews. He is preceded in death by his son, Dennis William, and one grandson. Additionally, he is survived by six stepchildren; 11 step-grandchildren, and numerous step-great-grandchildren.
Born June 15, 1933 to Dennis Alphonsus Byrne and Mary Maurine (Bricker) Byrne of Earlham, Iowa, he worked in his parents’ grocery store and played varsity football and tennis as well as trombone in the band. After high school, he attended Creighton University, graduating in 1955 with a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics. At Iowa State University, George earned a Master’s degree in mathematics (1961) and a Doctorate in applied mathematics (1963). At Iowa State he met his first wife, Laura Joan Brindle, marrying in 1960.
George’s career as a mathematician, computer scientist and educator took many paths. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and worked on early computers at White Sands Proving Ground and Sandia National Labs. He taught mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh, Southern Methodist University and the Illinois Institute of Technology.
George conducted research at Exxon Research and Engineering Corporation and collaborated with other scientists at Argonne National Labs and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
It was at the Illinois Institute of Technology that George met Normandie. They were married in Lyons, Wis., in 2003, where they enjoyed life in retirement.
Over the years, George was active in Toastmasters, and was a senior class powerlifting champion and a member of the Country Gentlemen Barbershop Chorus. He was an active and avid parishioner and scripture reader for many years at his parishes. Enjoying a long and active retirement, George and Normandie visited Cuba, Rio de Janeiro during Carnival, Russia, Germany, Austria and France.
The visitation will be held at Daniels Family Funeral Home, 625 Browns Lake Drive, Burlington, Wis., on Friday, November 1, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 1540 Mill Street, Lyons, Wis., on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., followed by burial at St. Joseph Cemetery, 6255 Sheridan Springs Road, Lyons, Wis. A luncheon at St. Joseph Parish Hall will begin at noon. In lieu of flowers, George requested contributions be made to the American Heart Association.
Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home & Crematory 625 S. Browns Lake Drive Burlington, WI 53105 (262) 763-3434 www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com
October 24, 2024
