Mike died peacefully on Friday, January 19, 2024 in Turlock CA at the age of 81.

He was born on April 7, 1942 in Woodland, CA and grew up in Winters. 

He was a Winters High School athlete and enjoyed football, basketball and baseball. Mike excelled in academics, graduating with honors and earned his life membership to California Scholastic Federation (CSF). His senior year, class of 1960, Mike was the student body president and chairman of the annual Winters Youth Day.

After high school, Mike attended Occidental College in Pasadena, CA and earned a degree in Political Science, class of 1964. His sophomore year, Mike married his high school sweetheart, Betty Ann Carrion. Their two children, Michelle and Michael, were both born in Pasadena while Mike was earning his degree and working in the school library.

After graduating from Occidental, Mike attended McGeorge Law School in Sacramento and worked for Aetna Insurance Company. In 1971, Mike, Betty and the kids moved to Fresno, where he worked as a multi-lines underwriter for Firemans Fund Insurance Company. Like his grandfather (Lester) and 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, CA. Shortly after, Mike became co-owner of Winton-Ireland Insurance Agency, Inc.

A few years later, Mike and Keith opened a second location at 116 S. Center Street, Turlock, and they continued to grow the business. In 1988, a merger with Strom & Green Insurance Agency presented a need for a larger facility, and in 1989 Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green moved into a newly purchased and remodeled church building at 627 E. Canal Dr., Turlock.

A third location in Modesto was added 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 clients and the community are widely acknowledged and appreciated. His sense of humor, strong work ethic and love for helping people – and telling stories of his adventures – are dearly missed.

Mike was always benevolent and community minded. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, a 50+ year member of Rotary International and a 32nd degree Mason, and he supported many charities, schools and organizations. He also loved to write and contributed a brief weekly column about insurance in the Turlock Journal for many years.

In 2014, he and Betty Ann were awarded Turlock Citizens of the year by the annual Best of Turlock.

Mike loved and enjoyed spending time with his family, including five grand-children, Courtney, Haley, Kaitlyn, Maecie and Kellen, and three great grandchildren, Grayson, Sawyer and Blaze. He was a great mentor for the outdoors and always enjoyed watching their sporting and music events.

Mike’s greatest passion was the outdoors; he loved shooting, hunting and fishing, and he traveled the globe pursuing trophy hunts. Evidence of Mike’s adventures are found throughout the WISG office buildings. A lifetime member of Safari Club International, he was always a well-known presence at the conventions. He was also a lifetime member of Boon & Crocket and National Rifle Association.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Wayne Ireland; his mother, Winnona Ireland and his sister, Patricia Lynn Ireland Tournabene. He is survived by his brother, Timmothy Wayne Ireland (Yvonne); 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, Kaitlyn (Ireland) Bergeron (Brandon), Maecie (Ireland) Kuenzi (Ryan) and Kellen Ireland. Great grandchildren include Grayson and Sawyer Bonifacio and Blaze Ireland Bergeron.

Services are Wednesday, January 31 at 10:00 AM 

Turlock Memorial Park: 575 N. Soderquist Rd, Turlock, CA 95380

Internment: Winters Cemetery; Friday, February 2 at 10:30 AM

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Jessica’s House, a member of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief. www.jessicashouse.org