FRANCIS M. (FRANK) BYRNE

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Francis M. (Frank) Byrne, 90, of Pomeroy, and formerly of Fort Dodge, died Monday, November 30, 2009 at the Pomeroy Care Center.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 5th at St Thomas Catholic Church, Manson with Rev. Richard Ries officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in St Joseph Cemetery, Palmer. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the services at church. The Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home is serving the family.

Surviving are his sisters, Elizabeth Merk of Manson; Eileen Byrne of Fort Dodge; step-daughters, Sandy Licht of Clare, Patricia Melssen of Curtis, OH; step-son, Rick Sessler of Fort Dodge; 9 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mark and Margaret (Lampe) Byrne; an infant sister, Margaret Ann Byrne; Sister Iola Byrne O.S.F.; and a brother, Jim Byrne.

Francis Mark Byrne was born May 19, 1919 in Palmer, Iowa. He was raised and educated in Palmer, graduating from Palmer High School in 1938. His mother died in 1927 and his father in 1938 so Frank farmed the home place and cared for his siblings. On April 18, 1969 he was united in marriage to Ila Jean (James) Sessler at Corpus Christi Church and they established their home in Fort Dodge. He worked as a mechanic most of his life, working over 30 years at Clement Auto.

He was a member of Holy Trinity Parish, past member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Rockwell City Jaycees, Past President of International Association of Mechanics, was a Hawkeye Fan, and loved stock car racing.

Memorials may be left to Trinity Hospice.