Wayne Matthew Ireland, age 84, passed away on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at Miller Funeral Home – Southside Chapel (7400 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD) with visitation beginning at 9:30 am, Prayer, Family Remarks, and Memory Sharing at 10:30 am and lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society in Wayne's Memory.

Wayne was born on April 2, 1941 to Kenneth and Viola (Rames) Ireland on their farm in rural Scotland, South Dakota. He grew up on the farm and attended Scotland High School. The basketball hoop in the barn loft got a lot of use. He went on to earn his Master's Degree in Education /Administration through the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. While at USD, he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity where he made life-long friendships. Wayne then taught high school government in Inwood and Sheldon Iowa schools. Following his teaching career, he became a salesman, selling silos for AO Smith /Dakota Harvestore and then as a District Sales Manager for Golden Harvest Seed Company for 18 years. His relationships and hard work earned him several trips and awards. A lifelong learner, Wayne continued to develop himself professionally throughout his career, obtaining certificates and licenses in fields that interested him.

On August 15, 1964, Wayne was joined in marriage to Jean Bergei at Scandia Lutheran Church in Centerville, South Dakota. Wayne was a devoted and loving husband to Jean during their 60 years of marriage, concerned with always taking care of her even up to his final days. Together, they had four children, Tom, Pamela, Sandra, and Lisa, (all claim to be his favorite child). Wayne was an exceptional and loving father, always providing for his family and assuring that every need was met.

There was no doubt that Wayne loved and excelled at all sports during high school and college. Despite a football injury to his shoulder, he still maintained one of the highest batting averages while playing with the USD baseball team. When he no longer played, he was still a loyal and somewhat critical fan of the game, especially of his favorite team, the St. Louis Cardinals. After retiring in 2002, Wayne and Jean moved to Sun City West, Arizona, where he frequently attended spring training games, socialized with friends and volunteered at the visitor center. We doubt he ever went in his swimming pool but he picked and enjoyed his oranges.

Wayne was well-read and balanced that with a sharp wit and punchy sense of humor. He was an "expert" on many areas of interest, but most especially history and different wars, conflicts, and treaties, his favorite topic being Custer's Last Stand. The History Channel likely never had a viewer as devoted as Wayne, but he also enjoyed watching Animal Planet and Nature shows, taking up birdwatching and feeding his squirrels in his later years. One could often find Wayne with a book or the paper; he loved political & sports biographies, mystery novels, and anything of a historical nature learning as much as he could. He couldn't start his day until he read the paper and completed the crossword puzzle.

When traveling for work or pleasure, Wayne enjoyed driving down backroads listening & singing to country music-especially on hunting and fishing trips, many of which he took with his best friend, his younger brother, Larry and his "super son" Tom. Always devoted to family from an early age, he took the phrase, "brother's keeper" to heart and embodied the big brother role by always looking out for his siblings. Wayne also had a competitive streak when it came to playing golf or card games. Branding himself the "Pinochle Prince" and the "Rook Master." He was known to out-bid everyone in card games, teasing them on by quoting Shakespeare, "A coward dies a thousand deaths, but a brave man dies but once!" After he won, he would mail his opponents (usually grandchildren) the score card in the mail, with love. His memorable humor was also matched with a genuine interest in others. Wayne could make friends anywhere, striking up conversations and asking others about their lives and "Where are you from?" in order to form connections to the many friends he had made across the country.

Wayne was one of a kind. He was a loyal, honorable, well-rounded man whose intelligent humor, genuine nature, and love will be missed immeasurably.

Grateful to have shared Wayne's life with him are his wife of almost 61 years, Jean Ireland; his son, Tom (Mary) Ireland of Sioux Falls, SD; his daughters, Pamela (Paul) Kreber of Sioux Falls, SD, Sandra (David) Ireland-Nuese of Southlake, TX, and Lisa (Chad) Kempf of Elk Point, SD; his grandchildren, Allison (Alex) Mack, Taylor and Blake Pfaff, Haleigh (Jordan) Bouslog, Kendyl Kreber, Braxton, Matthew and Jayse Nuese, and Lily, Canon, Easton and Hudson Kempf; his great-grandsons, Graham Mack, Crew and Auggie Bouslog; his sisters, Mary Matheson and Kathy Manning; his, brother-in-law Roger Bergei; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ken and Viola Ireland; his brother, Larry Ireland; his sister, Karen Orth; his granddaughter, Brooklynn Nuese; his grandson, Jaden Nuese; and his brothers-in-law, Bill Matheson, Art Orth, Steve Merrigan & Ronald Bergei.

The family of Wayne would like to extend thanks to the staff at Dow Rummel Village, Sanford Hospital, Avera Hospice, and all the neighbors and friends Wayne has made over the years throughout Arizona, Iowa, and South Dakota. In honor of Wayne's sweet tooth, all are welcome to join in an ice cream sundae bar during lunch following his Celebration of Life.