William O Byrne

William O. Byrne, age 73 of Madison passed away on Saturday, April 4th, 2026, at Agrace Hospice Care in Fitchburg. He was born on September 18th, 1952, in Manhattan, New York, the son of William O. and Rita P. Byrne.  He married Barbara Jo Spaeth on August 5th, 1988 in Madison.

William earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981.  He worked at Memorial Library at the university from 1979 to his retirement in early 2017.

The joy of William's life was his family, who anchored a personality otherwise prone to drift.  Most of all, Barbara showed him the way. Daughters Caitlin and Hillary and stepson Ben provided Bill William with a sense of rootedness and countless hours of family fun over the years. William's grandchildren, Lilly, Everett, Miller and Everly, fulfilled the same role later in life.  If Heaven offers playgrounds, bicycling, hiking, and imaginative play, William will be waiting there to share these things with his children and grandchildren for all eternity.

During retirement William collaborated with several friends, creating tabletop strategy games with American Civil War themes. Six such games were published during his lifetime. William regarded his friends in these ventures as a Band of Brothers.

By the grace of the Holy Spirit, William's faith in the Lord Jesus deepened soon after retirement. William thanks his friend, Alex Barney, for his encouragement  and Andrew Kem, liturgical minister at St. Dennis Church, for introducing him to contemporary Christian Praise & Worship music, which became his favorite genre till the end of his days.

Survivors include, his wife, Barbara Jo, daughters, Caitlin (Adam) Duncan, Hillary (Mike) Collins, his step-son, Benjamin (Arielle) Leisman, his sisters, Rita (Jeff) Wiseman, Joan (Vern) LaCour, his brothers, Robert (Jennifer) Byrne & Christopher Byrne and his grandchildren Lilly Duncan, Everett Leisman, Miller Leisman and Everly Collins.

William was preceded in death by his parents, William O & Rita P Byrne and his sister, Mary Katherine Byrne.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 30th from 10:00 - 11:00am with a Memorial Mass at 11:00am followed by a luncheon at St. Dennis Catholic Church, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, WI. Inurnment will take place on Friday, May 1st at Resurrection Cemetery in Madison, WI at 10:00am.  

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to St. Dennis Catholic Church in William's honor.

Informed Choice Funeral & Cremation Alternatives is assisting the family.