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John 'Mr. B' Byers
JOHN LYLE BYERS "MR. B"
Wyoming
John Lyle Byers "Mr. B," 79, of Wyoming, Iowa, passed away Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, at Wheatland Manor. His service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, at United Methodist Church, Wyoming. A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Lahey Funeral Home in Wyoming. Burial will be in the Wyoming Cemetery.
John was born Jan. 30, 1937, in Primghar, Iowa, to Loren and Emma (Sand) Byers. He graduated from Primghar High School and went on to get his master's degree from the Iowa State Teacher's College (UNI), where he was a member of the Phi Sigma Epsilon Fraternity. On June 3, 1959, he was united in marriage to his beloved Mary Willa Carnal in Cedar Falls.
Mr. B began his teaching career at Marble Rock, where he introduced the wrestling program to the district. He went on to work for Midland High School for 35-plus years. He taught industrial arts and driver's ed. He also coached football, wrestling and track throughout that time. He was a compassionate and giving man who loved his family, students, players and community. Aside from his many years in the classroom and athletics, he was strong in faith as a deacon for the Wyoming Presbyterian Church, an EMT for the Wyoming Ambulance along with Mary, and a Centurion of the Masons (St. Charles Cornerstone Lodge 141). In 1978, he was honored as the Class A Iowa Coach of the Year for Wrestling. In 1992, he was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame. John adored his children, spending time with his grandchildren and years of traveling to all 50 states with his wife.
Those left to cherish his memories are his three children, Joel Evan (Khue) Byers of Terrell, Texas, Marilyn "Mimi" (Stephen) Bardell of DeWitt and Mary "Beth" (Darren) Janssen of Ackley; eight grandchildren, Johnathan Canyon, Dylan and Carson Lake, Evan, Brent and Jay Janssen, Hannah Joy and John Byers; and his sister, Betty Koehlmoos of Paullina.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Dorothy; brother, Robert; and his wife in 2008.
Memorials may be directed to his family in his honor.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.laheys.com.
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