Mike passed away peacefully on Friday, January 19, 2024 in Turlock, California at the age of 81.
He was born April 7, 1942 in Woodland, Calif., and raised in Winters.
He was an athlete at Winters High School and enjoyed playing football, basketball, and baseball. Mike excelled academically, graduating with honors and becoming a lifetime member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF). Mike, a senior in his class of 1960, was student body president and president of the annual Winter’s Youth His Day.
After high school, Mike attended Occidental College in Pasadena, California, graduating in 1964 with a degree in political science. During his sophomore year, Mike married his high school sweetheart, Betty Ann, his carrion. Their two children, Michelle and Michael, were both born in Pasadena while Mike earned his degree and worked in a school library.
After graduating from Occidental College, Mike attended McGeorge Law School in Sacramento and worked for Aetna Insurance Company. In 1971, Mike, Betty, and his children moved to Fresno, where he worked as a multi-line underwriter for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. Like his grandfather (Lester) and his father (Wayne), insurance was in his blood.
In 1973, the family moved to Turlock to join Keith and Mary Winton’s insurance agency, Winton Insurance Agency, in Livingston, California. Shortly after, Mike became co-owner of Winton Ireland Insurance Agency.
A few years later, Mike and Keith opened a second store at 116 S. Center Street in Turlock and continued to grow their business. In 1988, a merger with Strom & Green Insurance Agency created a need for a larger facility, and in 1989 Winton Ireland, Strom & Green moved to his church building at 627 E. Canal Dr. in Turlock. I bought a new one and moved it to a renovated one.
A third store was added in Modesto in 1993 with the merger of James Quinn & Sons.
After leading Winton, Ireland, Strom & Green through remarkable growth, Mike retired on December 31, 2015 at the age of 73. His dedication and love for insurance, his corporate family, his customers and his community is widely recognized and appreciated. His sense of humor, strong work ethic, love of helping people and telling stories of his adventures will be greatly missed.
Mike was always compassionate and concerned about his community. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, his 50+ year membership in Rotary International, a 32nd degree Mason, and supported many charities, schools and organizations. He also loved to write, and for many years he contributed a short weekly column on insurance to the Turlock Journal.
In 2014, he and Betty Ann were awarded the Turlock Citizen of the Year Award by the annual Best of Turlock.
Mike loved and enjoyed spending time with his family, including his five grandchildren, Courtney, Hailey, Caitlin, Macy, and Kellen, and his three great-grandchildren, Grayson, Sawyer, and Blaise. He was a great outdoor coach and always enjoyed watching sports and music events.
Mike’s greatest passion was the outdoors. He loved shooting, hunting, and fishing and traveled all over the world on trophy hunts. Evidence of Mike’s adventures can be found throughout the WISG office building. He was a life member of Safari Club International and was always a well-known presence at conventions. He was also a life member of Boone & Crockett and the National Rifle Association.
Mike was predeceased by his father, Wayne Ireland. He is survived by his mother Winona Ireland and sister Patricia Lynn Ireland Turnabane. He is survived by his brother, Timothy Wayne Ireland (Yvonne); his wife of 62 years, Betty Ann (Carrion) Ireland; daughter Michelle Lynn Ireland; son L. Michael Ireland Jr. (Debbie); Grandchildren include Courtney (Pascoe) Bonifacio (Darwin), Haley Pascoe, Caitlin (Ireland) Bergeron (Brandon), Macy (Ireland) Kuenzi (Ryan), and Kellen Ireland. His great-grandchildren are Grayson and Sawyer Bonifacio and Blaze Ireland Bergeron.
Services will be held Wednesday, January 31st at 10 a.m.
Turlock Memorial Park: 575 N. Soderquist Rd, Turlock, CA 95380
Interment: Winters Cemetery. Friday, February 2nd, 10:30am
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Jessica’s House, a member of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief. www.jessicahouse.org