Richard D. Byrne

SIOUX CITY -- Richard D. "Rich" Byrne, 73, of Sioux City passed away Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008, at a Sioux City hospital following a sudden illness.

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Ave., with the Rev. Fred Pilecki officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Rich was born Jan. 25, 1935, in Jamestown, N.D., the son of Richard B. and Faye (Rederneck) Byrne. He grew up in Hettinger, N.D., where he graduated from high school. He attended four years of college in South Dakota.

He married Verona M. Bohm in October 1961. He later married Carolyn M. (Deidrich) Harris on Oct. 7, 1983, in Sioux City. He came to Sioux City in 1964, where he worked for Larry Book Construction for 18 years. He lived in Colorado for nine and one half years before returning to Sioux City in 1995. He then worked for KB Concrete until his retirement in 2003.

He was a friend of Bill W. for 28 years. In his younger years, he enjoyed fishing and hunting with his father and later with his sons.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Byrne of Sioux City; seven children, Darcie Acosta and Kelly (Kim) Byrne, all of South Sioux City, Shawn (Lisa) Byrne of Sioux City, Pat Byrne of Warsaw, Mo., Matthew Byrne of South Sioux City, Tony (Dedra) Harris of Northwood, Iowa, and Larry (Sherri) Harris of Racine, Wis.; and 17 grandchildren, Dale, Destiny, Amy, Travis, Amanda, Taylor, Cassandra, Michael, Amber, Josh, Shelby, Tori, Lindy, Sydney, Dylan, Treasure and Daniel.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Pallbearers will be Joe Baker, Greg Jons, Jerry Madison, Ray Coen, Steve Keane and Mitch Kulawik. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren.