Bernard James "Barney" Byrne

Bernard James “Barney” Byrne, 84, of Olathe, Kansas, formerly of Ottawa, passed away Friday, October 30, 2020 with his family by his side. The Rosary will be held at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 4, 2020, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ottawa, family will meet with friends from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Ottawa. Bernard was born February 5, 1936, at Chicago, Illinois, the son of James Edward and Margaret “Peg” (Hutting) Byrne. He lived in Indianapolis, Indiana for 10 years, moving in 1974 to Olathe. He graduated from Shawnee Mission High School with the class of 1954 and continued his education at the University of Kansas studying mechanical engineering. He was a member of the Kansas National Guard during the 1950’s. Bernard was united in marriage to Mary Jo Kiefer June 15, 1957, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ottawa. They were happily married 54 years and had four daughters. He was the owner/operator of H.E.R.S. Inc., a hydraulic equipment repair company, from 1983 to the present time. Barney was active for 10 years at St. Barnabas Parish in Indianapolis, former member of Prince of Peace in Olathe, and was a founding member and currently attending St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Olathe. He loved spending time with his family, drinking beer at the kitchen bar, and was known as a people person. Barney also enjoyed going to the family farm working with his in-laws, James (deceased) and Patsy Kiefer, and John and Patricia Cummings and working with his daughter Cathy in their business. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jo, and his parents. Survivors include four daughters, Catherine Jo Mitchell and husband Peter of Spring Hill, Deborah Byrne of Lenexa, Patricia Laudick and husband Gregory of Spring Hill, and Bernardette Hollis also of Spring Hill; sixteen grandchildren, Christina Mitchell, Kristi Morris, Nathan Mitchell, Niki Dreiling and husband Jarrod, Jeremiah Mitchell and wife Katia, Mitchell Meek, Kiana Meek, Aidan Meek, Janelle Laudick, Ryan Laudick and wife Caitlin, Amber Banwart and husband Jordan, Amanda Betzen and husband Joey, Alina Hollis, Hannah Hollis, McAuley Hollis, and Keely Hollis; and two great grandchildren, Lucas Laudick and Wyatt Presunti Mitchell. The family suggests memorial contributions to American Cancer Society c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.