Erin Byrne
May 26, 1970 ~ May 21, 2016
Erin Kathryn Byrne, 45, of Cedar Rapids, died on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City. Funeral Service: 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2016, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, by Linda Waychoff. Military honors will be presented. Visitation: 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home with a rosary at 7:30 p.m.
Survivors include her mother, Barbara Wilson Tokheim; daughters, Kerina Byrne, Jennifer Theiss, and Regina (Aaron) Hamilton; extended children, Chris Taylor, Josie Meineke, Connor Norton, Johnnie Morris, and Ethan, Jacob, Emily and Leelah Black; niece, LaResa Nilles; nephew, Jordan Byrne; sister, DeeDee (Barbara) and Gary Duder; and the true light of her life, her granddaughter, Keelan Kathryn Taylor.
Also surviving are numerous aunts, uncles, and an abundance of cousins. She shared herself with too many wonderful friends to list them all, including Katie Moser and Shannon Leigh.
Erin was born May 26, 1970, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Michael Byrne and Barbara Wilson. She graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1988. At age 17, she voluntarily joined the Iowa National Guard and honorably served for 10 years. Erin worked in customer service with Hibu for 15 years.
She enjoyed collecting business cards and stamps, researching family genealogy, four wheeling, and anything frog. Erin was proud of her Irish heritage and was also an advocate for survivors of military sexual trauma and domestic abuse. She will be remembered as wonderful grandmother.
Erin was met at Heaven's gates by her father, Michael Byrne; sister, Michelle Nilles; friend, Mark Schow; and her grandparents.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in her name for her granddaughter, Keelan and to provide a legacy to continue her dedication to her fellow women veterans.
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I worked with Erin at Pindar/Yellow book/Hibu and she was a beautiful person who I enjoyed being arounf. My prayers go out to you and your family’s during this time.
I worked with erin Byrne at yellow book and she was a wonderful lady who always told it like it was. She also always tried to put a smile on your face. Prayers to her family.
I met Erin through work. I know she will be missed so much by her friends and family. My heart hurts for those including my sister Anita ,, who were close friends of Erin’s. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Didn’t know Erin very long, just a year, but am happy to have had the chance to meet her. Many prayers to her family and friends.
Janita Fisher
Erin, this just can’t be. Deb and I were supposed to take to celebrate your birthday. This certainly makes the world a little less happy place to be in without hearing your laughter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1jpQu6qR1E
We met Erin at work over 9 years ago and we have been friends ever since. She was always the one who would take time to help you out and never expected anything in return. She loved her family and her friends without reservation. We had great times, lots of laughs, a few tears, some scary moments and we will never, ever forget her. The world was a better place with Erin in it.
I also worked with Erin at Yellowbook and I always enjoyed stopping by her desk for a chat. She was always so pleasant and had a beautiful smile on her face. She brought a lot of love and laughter to work and she was a wonderful person. She will be greatly missed.
Ok beautiful cousin…here’s “our” story. I started working at YB and was a single mom of 3 hell raising boys. After a week of being reprimanded and warned by management that I would be punished for my BIG mouth on the phone when the boys called tattling on each other, I finally became “no phone Tanja” (and we are talking 5 years of no phone)!!! Lol! You told a manager who despised me in the first place and only because you were told by someone else. Long story short…I saw you at my family reunion a few years later and it was all over. You and I were family and we loved each other the way family should. It became a HUGE joke after that and I was granted the BEST friend, cousin, girl, in the world. I miss you more than I can even express through words. (Which is remarkable with our fun vocab games….I know I know….you always won, but I gave it a run! You had 4 years on me!) Erin…I love you so much. I wish you were here. I know it’s so selfish of me, but I can’t help it. I love your feathered hair-do! Lol, and I love how you’d call and tell me…”I’m doing my feathers, I’ll be there in a second!” I’ll never forget anything you taught me. Anything you told me. Anything you are to me. I love you. I truly love you and miss you so much. Until I get to see you again cousin…
Met Erin in school many years ago. She was one of a kind and nice to everyone she met. We lost touch after high school as she went on to bigger and better things in her life. Recently reconnected thru facebook and I was happy for her that she did the things she wanted to do for her short time here and followed her heart. My prayers and thoughts are with all her friends and family. Till we meet again Erin, you are a truly special person I am glad I was able to know you.
I met Erin while going to school also. She was such a wonderful, caring person, who could make the room light up no matter what. She and I also reconnected on Facebook and we spoke with each other after her sister Michelle passed away suddenly. We were able to talk about the loss of a sibling so unexpectedly and share how we were doing. I will treasure getting to know her and know that you have an amazing guardian angel looking out for you all. Rest in paradise my friend.
You’ll be missed by many Erin. I’m glad I met ya.
I’m so sorry to learn of Erin’s passing. We were friends and went through training together at Fort Gordon, Georgia in late 1988. I just recently found my old address book with all of my friends addresses in it and was looking people up when I discovered this news.
The attached picture that I took of Erin. Its from Saturday October 1st, 1988. A group of us from A Company, 361st Signal Battalion, went to Regency mall to see a movie and enjoy ourselves.
It’s been a lot of years between then and now, but my memory of her is of a bright and happy young woman who was a good friend.
My condolences to her family, late as this may be.
Kevin R