Edward “Ed” Compton Byrne, a longtime Wisconsin journalist, died on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the age of 74.
Byrne was born on July 20, 1948, to Frank and Doris (Compton) Byrne in Manhattan, Kansas.
He graduated in 1966 from South High School in Denver, Colorado, before beginning his undergraduate education at the College of Idaho in Caldwell. After two years there, he enrolled in St. Norbert College in De Pere, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in criminology and English in 1972. He then enrolled in the theology program at Mount Angel Seminary in Saint Benedict, Oregon.
Byrne had a diverse career and held many passions. Most recently, he worked as a reporter for The Brillion News, where he covered local schools and government. He held the position for 13 before suffering a major stroke on April 1.
Prior to joining The Brillion News, Byrne served as a reporter an editor for Gannett newspapers in Wisconsin — including the Green Bay Press-Gazette and (Appleton) Post-Crescent — from 1996 to 2008.
He also held positions as a radio announcer, police communications officer and patrolman, privat investigator, childcare worker ans sports information officer.
