Jim Byrnes

James M. Byrnes, 84, of Topeka, Kansas, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, January 18, 2019. Jim was born on October 13, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa, the fourth of 12 children of John and Marguerite Jansen Byrnes. He grew up in Urbandale, Iowa, and attended Holy Trinity Grade School, Class of 1948, and Dowling High School, Class of 1952. Jim earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. He went on to attend Mount Saint Bernard seminary, and was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1957. While at Seminary, Jim met lifelong friends, Paul Koch and Jim Stessman. He would later coach football with Father Stessman back at Dowling. Jim took a different life path in 1967, leaving the Priesthood and moving to Topeka, where he was a Research Psychologist at the Kansas Neurological Institute. He married his wife of 49 years, Shirley Rae Cleland in September of 1969. Jim became the director of the Foster Grandparent Program for the State of Kansas, as a federal civil servant in 1968 and in 1972 moved on to be the regional director of the ACTION Senior Volunteer Program for Kansas and Missouri. He retired from federal service in 2001 after 29 years. Working with older American volunteers in the community became Jim’s life work. Jim and Shirley loved Topeka, where they raised their children Terry, Randy and Kathleen O’Boyle. Shirley was a traveler and as a result, Jim had no choice but to see the world. They loved their neighborhood friends and community. He especially loves Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish. Jim taught at Washburn University in the Psychology Department from 1968 to 1982, where Jim and Shirley made many friends. Jim loved his family, especially his brothers and sisters, loved being a “Byrnes” and being Irish and Catholic. He also had a love for sports, especially Notre Dame Football games with Jim DeCoursey. Jim played hockey, while he was a priest, for the Urbandale Comets of the Hawkeye Amateur league in 1961. He later became a fan of the local Oak Leafs Professional Team. He enjoyed golf, riding motorcycles and going to retreats at the monastery in Snowmass, Colorado, with Jim Stessman and Paul Koch. With Dowling friend, Kermit Marsh, they bought Honda 1965 motorcycles, rode to Colorado and taught some of their sisters to ride. He loved reunions with classmates, family and colleagues. Jim loved Shirley’s Westies – they quickly became his. He had a smile to fill a room. But most of all Jim loved to serve. At his retirement they said he was a servant of the common man. Even in retirement, Jim continued to serve, whether it was mowing the nuns’ yard (where he lost half his foot) or bringing the Eucharist to those in need. He even became a greeter at Walmart and volunteered in the kitchen at McCrites Senior Living Facility. Jim is survived by his wife Shirley; children, Randy O’Boyle and Kathleen Hershner; grandson, Conor O’Boyle; brothers, Jack, Ed, Tom, Paul and Bill; sisters, Mary, Helen, Gert, Caroline, Frances, and Angela; 27 nieces and nephews; 56 great-nieces and nephews; and 30 great-great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and child, Terry O’Boyle. Parish rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. Friday, January 25, 2019, at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614, with visitation until 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2019, at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 3601 SW 17th Street, Topeka KS 66604. Burial to follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Relief Services, sent in care of the funeral home.

Jim Byrnes

October 13, 1934 - January 18, 2019