Kenneth Dale Ireland

K. Dale Ireland, Leawood, Kansas, passed away June 21, 2012. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 24 at the Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes, Kansas City, Missouri. Graveside services will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cecile Ireland High School Scholarship Fund c/o Holton High School, Holton, Kansas or to Boy Scout Troop #24 c/o Central United Methodist Church, Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Ireland was born on December 4, 1922 in Smith Center, Kansas. He was the son of Bert and Ivie Ireland, the eighth of nine children. His parents were farmers and he was raised on a farm. He graduated from the Whiting, Kansas grade school in 1936 and the Holton Kansas High School in 1940. He later attended night school at the old Kansas City Junior College. On July 1, 1940 he commenced work as the office boy for E. F. Pierson & Co., an Insurance and Real Estate Agency in Kansas City. After thirty-eight months in the United States Navy during World War II, he returned to the Agency and after a series of purchases and mergers, he became the sole owner and changed the name to the Ireland Insurance Agency in 1971. He continued to own and operate the agency until November 1988, at which time he sold it to Embry & Co. with whom he continued in the insurance business as an insurance producer. Mr. Ireland was a member of the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Kansas City, the State of Missouri and the national organization. He was a past member of the Insurance Society of Greater Kansas City. During his career, he served as a member and for many years, the Chairman of the Insurance Committees of the City of North Kansas City and the North Kansas City School District. Mr. Ireland volunteered and joined the United States Navy in November, 1942. He served until January 1946. His last assignment was with the Flag Command, Commander Service Force, Pacific at Pearl Harbor. Mr. Ireland was active in the Boy Scouts of America. He served for many years as an Assistant Scoutmaster and as the Scoutmaster of Troop 24 located at Central United Methodist Church. He became a member of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say in 1943, advanced to Warrior and in 1989 he became a lifelong Dog Soldier. In 1953 he served as the Scoutmaster of the Kansas City contingent of scouts attending the National Jamboree at Mohave Desert in California. He was a member of the Central United Methodist Church since 1940, a member of Hillcrest Country Club, a member of the Kansas City Club, a member and past President of the 711 Club (an inner club in the Kansas City Club). He was a member of the Breakfast at 8 Club and the American Legion. He was a former member of Leawood South Country Club, the Advertising & Sales Executive Club and a former member and secretary of the Cosmopolitan club. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, three sisters and his first wife, Shirley Bonney. Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Lynda of the home, four step-children Kurt Schoeb, Leawood, Claire Haire, Omaha, Jean McGuire, Kansas City, MO, and Doug Bonney, Kansas City, MO. In addition, he is survived by six step-granddaughters: Mary, Michelle, Sarah, Meagan, Molly and Hannah, and five step-great-grandchildren: Eli, Logan, Sophie, Lily and Luca. The family wants to thank the staffs of both The Sweet Life and Odyssey Hospice for their thoughtfulness, kindness and love for Dale during this last year. Online condolences may be made at www.mtmoriah-freeman.com .