Jeanne “Jeanie” Ann Byrnes, 73, passed away on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at her home in Cresco, Iowa.

Jeanie was born to Robert and Lucille (Gerber) Byrnes on May 27, 1946, in Tacoma, Washington. She grew up on the family farm in Cresco and graduated from Notre Dame High School with the class of 1964. Jeanie was united in marriage to Dale Kaderabek on Sept. 4, 1965, at the Assumption Catholic Church in Cresco; they were later divorced. To this union two children were born, Kim (Kaderabek) McConnell and Kris “Kato” Kaderabek. They made their home in Austin, Minnesota. Throughout her life, Jeanie enjoyed working in the sales, media and marketing fields. She was involved with the Miss Austin, Miss Minnesota and Miss America pageants. She was also involved in many other organizations, like the Austin Jaycees, Austin Chamber of Commerce, and Sheriff’s Boys Ranch. She worked at the Oak Park Mall and Mower County Shopper in Austin and for the American Truck Pullers Association in Harmony, Minnesota. She moved to Arizona to work for Torgerson Motorsports and later moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where she worked at a large media organization. She moved back to Cresco, where she worked at the Cresco Shopper, the Times Plain Dealer, and KDEC radio station of Decorah, Iowa. Jeanie had a passion for making crafts, floral arrangements, and wedding decorations. Jeanie was a social person who made many friends over the years. She had the gift of gab and enjoyed visiting with friends and family. Jeanie loved to spend time with her grandsons; she enjoyed spoiling them and doing fun things with them, like playing board and yard games and making fun traditions, including her annual Easter egg hunt.

Jeanie is survived by her daughter, Kim (Bruce) McConnell; three grandsons, Andy, Austin and Ashton; siblings, Rick (Wanda) Byrnes, Julie (Barry Nelson) Byrnes, Tim (Theresa Chipera) Byrnes and Pat (Pam) Byrnes, all of Cresco; many nieces and nephews; her aunt, Betty Moen of Cresco; aunt and uncle, Fred and Donna Ault of Spokane, Washington; and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Kris “Kato” Kaderabek; and her brothers in infancy, baby Byrnes and James Allen Byrnes.

A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Cresco with Father Jacob Rouse officiating. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Cresco and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Burial will be held in spring at Calvary Cemetery.