James E. Ireton

James. E. Ireton, 85, died Saturday, March 3, 2012. He was a former teacher and counselor in the Grosse Pointe Public School System. He was born Feb. 5, 1927, and raised on a farm in Yates City, Ill. At 18, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1945 and saw duty in Iwo Jima. Mr. Ireton earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Illinois. He began his teaching career in the Grosse Pointe public schools, where he taught for 36 years. He taught science at Parcells, Brownell and Pierce middle schools, and later became a counselor at Pierce. He attended numerous sabbaticals centering around natural sciences. He earned master's degrees from Michigan State University and Wayne State University. During summers, Mr. Ireton was a director at Baycourt Camp and nature leader at Sauk Valley Camp. he loved the outdoors and spent many weekends hunting and fishing with family and friends at properties he owned in both the upper and lower peninsulas. He loved to walk the woods of Michigan and especially loved trees. Mr. Ireton was an active member and usher at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe Farms. He also was a member of Gideons International. Mr. Ireton is survived by Donna, his wife of 60 years, and his children, Mark, Marsha, Matthew and Mitchell. He was predeceased by his son, Martin, in 2007. Visitation will be held (time, date), at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods. A funeral service will be held at (time, date) at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 375 Lothrop, Grosse Pointe Farms. Donations may be made to the church at the address above or at stpaulgp.org or to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 3714-0800 or at gideons.org.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236