Joseph Patrick Byrne

Joseph Bernard Byrne, 91, of Seattle, passed away peacefully three weeks before his 92nd birthday, on February 21, 2023 in his home surrounded by his loving wife and family.

He was born the youngest of nine on March 9, 1931 to Luke James and Dora Mary (Lanier) Byrne in Seattle. After graduating from O'Dea Catholic High School in 1949, he served 3 years in the Air Force, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Upon returning home, he met his wife, Geraldine Rowan. They married less than a year later on February 18, 1955, and welcomed their first daughter in 1956, with two sons and two more daughters following closely behind.

In 1954, he hired in at Boeing, and retired after 37 years with an extensive career as a draftsman, cost estimator, and manager. He was especially proud of his involvement in the Minuteman Missile Project, the B52 Bomber & B1 Bomber Programs, as well as Apollo's Lunar Rover Program. He spent 45 years working as an usher at the Seattle Center and the King Dome covering many events, concerts, and basketball games, including the Seattle Super Sonics.

Joe enjoyed people and could strike up a conversation with anyone. He loved hosting parties, especially his Fourth of July party, where he could be found grilling burgers and setting up croquet in the backyard. He was known for always inviting everyone and anyone over for dinner, usually with little notice, and breaking out his George Foreman Grill to cook up whatever he could find.

He was an avid golfer and enjoyed traveling. He spent much of his retirement traveling Europe with his wife and taking cruises up to Alaska. Road trips were frequent, and they visited all 50 states and every state capital. Every winter he'd take his annual road trip down to Arizona to catch up with family and play golf. He'd drive his trusty Oldsmobile packed to the brim with golf clubs, hats, classic country cassettes, a radar detector, and coffee with barely enough room for Gerry. Joe wasn't known for traveling light.

Joe and his wife Gerry were devout and active Catholics at St. Catherine of Siena in Seattle where they attended Mass and received the Holy Eucharist together. He valued his faith and his family, and will always be remembered as kind, generous, loving, and outgoing with a passion for telling great stories.

He is survived by his wife Geraldine, sons: Joseph Jr. (Robin) and Stephen (Marie), daughters: Cheryl Shelton (Garey), Karen Schomburg, and Chris, three grandsons: Kyle (Jacque), Connor, and Bryce Schomburg, five granddaughters: Megan Rhoden (Kanale), Colleen, Katie, Tracie Takisaki (Bryan), and Sierra Schomburg, and nine great-grandchildren: Liam, Brennan, Declan, Owen, Guinevere, Finnian, Noah, Aurora, and Gabriel; and extended family and friends.

He is proceeded in death by his parents and his siblings: Francis, Edward, Cecelia Mary, Louella, Agnes, Floreen, and Luke.

Funeral services will be held on March 8th at 11:00 am at

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Seattle

814 NE 85th St, Seattle, WA 98115