Obituary: Edward (Ed) Compton Byrne

On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, Edward (Ed) Compton Byrne joined his Savior in Eternity.

Ed was born July 20, 1948, to Frank and Doris (Compton) Byrne in Manhattan, Kansas. He graduated high school in 1966 from South High School in Denver, CO.

Ed began his undergraduate education at the College of Idaho in Caldwell. After two years there, he enrolled in St Norbert College of De Pere where he earned his BA in Criminology and English in 1972. Not finished with his “education”, Ed enrolled in the Theology program (summers) at Mt Angel Seminary, St Benedictine, OR.

Ed’s employment history is diverse and many people will only know bits and pieces of the story but it’s apparent by reading his resume that throughout his entire adult life, Ed had several passions: youth, communication and his faith.

Included in his list of professions is radio announcer, program director at KCID Radio; police communications officer and patrolman; child care worker at St Joseph Home for Children, Green Bay, teaching English/Religion/Sociology, chairman of the Religion department (1975-78), and head soccer coach from 1973-78 at Abbot Pennings High School (Notre Dame Academy) De Pere; president and commissioner of several local and state-wide soccer organizations; associate member of the Ontario Soccer Referees’ Association, Toronto, Canada.

During the 1980s and into the 2000s Ed worked as an advertising and freelance feature writer; Editor of the De Pere Reporter; Sports Information Director and Director of Sports Promotions at St Norbert; and a radio announcer at WGEE AM radio, and as a reporter and then editor at Gannett Wisconsin Newspaper Group.

During this time frame he also spent time working as a private investigator.

When it was time to leave Gannett in 2008, Ed sent a letter to the owners of The Brillion News explaining in great detail and with much persuasiveness why he should be hired…and hired he was, although it’s more like he became part of the family.

During his time at The Brillion News, Ed covered the school districts of Hilbert and Wrightstown, and local government from Hilbert and Reedsville all the way around southern Brown County and into Wrightstown. Ed became emotionally attached to ALL the students in his coverage areas of Hilbert and Wrightstown school districts. And those students and their families also became attached to Ed.

Ed loved reporting on local government almost as much as reporting on the successes of the students. He was often called out for “poking the sleeping bear” and riling up readers with controversial commentaries.

Ed loved fishing and his yearly escapade to Louisiana and the people he made friends with down there.

Ed loved his adopted son Matt Greene, and Matt's wife and children.

Ed is survived by his son and family, Matt and Crystal Greene, and five grandchildren: Phoenix, Colton, Preston, James and Vincent, of De Pere; and a brother Terance of New Jersey; and nieces and nephews.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Doris, his siblings and their spouses.

Family and friends may visit at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N Webster Ave, De Pere, on Wednesday, December 7, from 4-7pm. A parish prayer service will conclude the evening. Visitation will continue on Thursday at St. Clare-St. Patrick Site, 7815 St. Pat’s Church Road, Askeaton (Greenleaf) from 9:30am until 10:45am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am with Fr. Brian Wideman officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Ed’s family would like to thank Toni Carter and the caring staff at Patient Pines, as well as Amanda Enright and AseraCare Hospice for the thoughtful care Ed received during the last few months after his stroke on Apr 1, 2022.