Dennis Keith Ireland

CLERGY
Rev. Tom Petersen
MUSIC
Organist ~ Glee Deutscher
Solo by Quiana McElroy
“Amazing Grace”
Solo by Patrick Ireland
“How Glory Goes”
Congregational Hymns
“Precious Lord”
“It is Well With My Soul”
CASKETBEARERS
Ron Baker
Lyle Ireland
Todd Meyer
Robert Moore
Victor Settje
Ken Travnicek
Dennis Keith Ireland was born to Wilfred “Pat” and Agnes (Diede) Ireland on Tuesday, March 20, 1951 at Scotland, South Dakota. In 1969, he graduated from Scotland High School, where he was very active in sports. He attended the University of South Dakota on a football scholarship and graduated in 1973. He taught school briefly in Alexandria, South Dakota before moving to Alaska in 1975.
He immediately fell in love with the beauty and wildlife of the state. He started out as a “roustabout” and retired as a #1 Mechanic, working on the huge engines on the platforms used to draw oil from beneath the ocean. He worked for 35 years in the oil fields for the same company – which began as Marathon Oil and most recently purchased by Chevron Oil. He retired from Chevron in August of 2010, winning several awards for his 35 years of service on the oil platforms of Cook Inlet.
Dennis married Dianne Permenter on May 10, 1990 in Kenai, Alaska. However brief his retirement, he enjoyed his free time immensely. He loved puttering and working in his “dream shop” that he built in the 1990’s. His cars were always in order, especially his prized Corvette. He was a talented innovator and could build anything that was needed by friends or family.
Dennis was very much a homebody in his later years.  He  loved  being  in his shop and working on his acreage near Soldotna. He enjoyed setting up his telescope in the marshland on his land and observing the animal life there, especially moose and bears, and he also enjoyed working in the yard and splitting firewood. He liked going to his grandchildren’s dance recitals and performances. Dennis passed away at his residence in Soldotna, Alaska on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at the age of 60 years, 8 months.
Dennis’ memory will be cherished by his wife, Dianne, of Soldotna, Alaska; two sons: Patrick Ireland of Astoria, New York and Joshua Ireland of Soldotna; a granddaughter: Quiana “Q” McElroy and a grandson, MalyQ McElroy, both of Soldotna; his mother, Agnes Ireland of Scotland; a brother, Richard (Carol) Ireland of Olivet; three sisters: Judy Strachan of Mesquite, Nevada, Ellen (James) Melius of Faulkton, and Nancy (Howard Hoffer) Wagoner-Hoffer of Bandon, Oregon; Patrick’s mother and former wife, Janis Ireland of Redwood City, California; and several nieces and nephews. 
Dennis was preceded in death by his father, Pat Ireland; a stepdaughter, Jeana McElroy, three brothers-in-law Thomas Strachan, Thomas Broderick and Edgar Wagoner; and one sister-in-law, Marilyn Ireland.