John Kenneth Ireland

John K. Ireland age 77 of Warrenton, NC died at Maria Parham Health Center on February 11, 2022. John was born in Ottawa, Kansas on January 17, 1945 to Elizabeth Moser Clark, adopted by beloved step-father Francis Ireland.  He was raised in California until the age of 5 when he moved to Helena, Montana. He served his country in the Navy as a Bosuns Mate on the USS Yorktown. John married Diana Bailey becoming a father of his five children, later marrying Janice Ireland on July 29, 1980 in Las Vegas, Nevada becoming a step-father of three children. John enjoyed playing pool, traveling, playing darts, and going on adventures and family get-togethers.

He is survived by his wife Janice Ireland of Warrenton, NC; children Theresa A. Ireland Perdue and husband Ron, Deborah K. Ireland, Michael J. Ireland and wife Maria, Scott K. Ireland and wife Amber, Heather M. Ireland, Kelly D. Persinger, Bret F. Dietz and wife Darlene, Toby L. Carter; grandchildren Shane, Samantha, Nickie, Brittany, Tiffany, D’Mitri (Teddy), Nya, Dempsey, Lily, Kiley, Wyatt, Waylon, William; great-grandchildren Samuel, Jocelyn, Destinie, Mason, Jackson

The family will be having a Mass of Remembrance at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church 2227 Hwy 39 in Louisburg, NC on Saturday, May 28th.

I not only lost a Father-in-law, I lost a very good Friend. I will miss cutting up with you. RIP John.

Ron Perdue 

My dad was an unassuming and kind man that was very slow to anger.  It took a lot to make him angry. But when he was pushed to his limit on something... you knew it. One of my funniest memories that we could laugh about later is when I was seventeen and pushed his button. We  were watching MTV together. I was mockingly singing and dancing to a video that was playing. He had asked me to stop a couple of times, but I kept going. He eventually yelled at me and left the room. I felt horrible and apologized. After all, he was just trying to relax after work. I just kept thinking to myself "Wow, I did not know you liked Olivia Newton John."  I have not forgotten it either. We were able to laugh about it after and I never mockingly sang that song again, especially to him. 

I remember my first camping trip with him, after Ron and I moved to North Carolina. It was so hot and humid on that July 4th trip at Kerr Lake. He built a fire and told us that you're not camping if you don't have a fire. Ron just looked at him. I think he thought  my dad might be crazy. 

He was a good, hardworking, strong, intelligent and talented man.  I really wish his talents had rubbed off on me. He has also helped me through some very difficult times.  There are a couple of times that I call it "saving me'' because what was asked of him was the furthest thing from his mind or a part of his plan.  I really loved my father. I have had some really wonderful times with him, and he will greatly be missed. 

Theresa

My Husband and Love of my Life Johnny,

            John answered to many names: Dad, Daddy, Papa John, Papa J, Big John, Dada, and even Walter (Jeff Dunham’s puppet). I called him Johnny. In the nearly 43 years together, we had only one bump in the road. Though it was a big one we resolved it with love, honesty, truth, and forgiveness. In the beginning a mutual friend of ours told me Johnny had said he was going to marry me the first time he saw me, and he did.

            We spent so much of our time together, working together and playing together. We were naturally best friends. We could spend hours talking. We accepted each others children with love and no reservations. Each day with Johnny was an adventure even doing simple things. I hate Johnny is unable to finish his bucket list, but now he is free to do or see anything he wants to without any medical hardships. I will always love him and carry him in my heart.

Until we Meet up in Heaven,

Your loving wife Jan

Not Just a Stepdad but my Dad,

  John Ireland was the most funny and honest man I’ve ever known. He Loved life to the point I saw him as another (Indiana Jones), he really loved exploring places and riddles. I remember his first video game, (Mist). He was so enveloped in it, mom called it his mistress. He was bound and determined to finish it a winner, and he did. His adventurous side with no planning just a notion to get up and go was awesome from a teenagers perspective at least mine. We were moving to Arizona by way of Texas and ending up in the beautiful state of Montana. I remember mom and Johnny setting up the tent in Corpus Christie Texas as we were traveling, tired and ready for a break from the life of the car on the road, we hear dogs or coyotes or something. I chose to sleep in the car, wasn’t long maybe an hour or so and lets just say we were on the road again. They must have gotten pretty close for us to leave in such a hurry, remember I said he was adventurous not stupid lol.

             He gave me strength in myself and determination to push past many of life's obstacles. He did not judge people, he read them. No way anyone could feed him any crap, because he knew if something was the truth or not. I will miss him tremendously and will try my hardest to keep making him proud.

All my Love,

Toby

 I will miss you bunches love, Kelly!

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