After teaching 42 years in Iowa and Nebraska I thinkmost of my students thought it was ok for me to retire in 2002. Yes Ireton was good for our family. I graduated in 1956 with 13 other folks and really do not know where many reside. Maybe some of you guys will be home on Sat the 23rd for the 125th.
I am always impressed when we come to Ireton to visit my folks grave at the cemetary. It would certainly win the award for the cleanest and neatest town in the good old USA for cities under 1000 people. Keep looking spiffy and hope to visit our town many more years.

Ron Peters

Sibley, Iowa

I'll always consider Ireton as my hometown.  I really enjoy telling people about Ireton's schools, churches, businesses, recreation facilities, and other small town advantages. I presently live in Fort Dodge and I really enjoy going back and seeing the changes that have taken place over the years. We are looking forward to the upcoming celebration.

Dave Peters (class of '59)
Fort Dodge, Iowa

Caught a few of the TV spots this weekend--they are GREAT!!!

Carol Salberg

Wow, where do I begin. I am very impressed with the Ireton website and appreciate all of the hard work you fellow "Iretonites" have put into planning this very special event. I can't wait to be there to join in the fun.

Even though I have not lived in Ireton since 1980, it is still my "home" and always will be. I have so many great memories. My children also had the opportunity to stay with Grandpa Pete and Grandma Betty during the summers and they also have great memories. There is nothing like that hometown atmosphere. I miss it.

Since Mom and Dad are both gone, I do not get back home enough, but I do subscribe to the "Ireton Examiner" to keep in touch. I know the paper is called something else now, but it will always be the "Ireton Examiner" to me.

See you all next week.

Take Care!

Julie Eisma
1207 Creston Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50315
home# 515-280-6515
cell# 515-865-3417
email coffeebaskets@yahoo.com

Committee - This is Jake Van Wyk - contacting you about the barn raising I'm planning for Monday, the 25th after the weekend events - in case people want to check it out too and, or lend a hand.

Announcing an Old Fashioned Barn Raising The week of June 25 - 30 at the Jake Van Wyk acreage - Ireton (formerly the John Dekker place)
2676 Hwy 10 - 3.5 mi.E. of the Ireton corner Restoring a 100 yr old post and beam cedar barn
48 ' by 35' two story with a 28ft peak
Come out out and check it out and lend a hand!
Work begins at 8 am each day till 9 pm

Nice website. Ireton is a great town to raise your kids!

Sara Stock

Ireton, IA

Hello Ireton! Rachel Mohning (Eisma) from Boyden Iowa (a town not to far from Ireton). It is pretty funny how I can still say that Ireton is still my "home town" as I reference it as home. I think that the website is great, and everybody did a great job!
 

I have been proud to call it home because living there for 18 years I have gained alot of memories, such as going to grade school, little league, swimming, and I could go on and on. Ireton was a great place to live because you always knew that you were in a great community to live in because you could call everybody family.
 

Keep up the good work and can't wait for the celebration!

Rachel Mohning

My name is Kim Huitink Butler. My parents are Bert & Willard Huitink. My husband Dan & I are looking forward to the 125th. I left Ireton in 1982 to attend Central College in Pella, IA and have lived in the Des Moines area since that time. I still say I'm going HOME when we visit Ireton. My kids have spent many summer days playing home-run derby at the ballpark and just enjoying a relaxing small town kind of day. As a RAGBRAI veteran I've visited many small towns in Iowa and there is none nicer, more friendly or cleaner than our little home town.

Congratulations on what I'm sure will be a great celebration.

Kim Huitink Butler

This is a cool site for my lil' hometown. Thank-you!

Julie Hulshof

Sioux Falls, SD

Hello, My name is Marlene (Van Engen) Natelborg.  I grew up in Ireton for 18 years and I proudly tell many about Ireton. I'm thankful I had a safe, accepting and friendly place to grow up. My life was shaped by the good instruction and upbringing of the Christian Reformed Church and the Christian and Public schools. Due to the beneficial instruction, I was able to receive a BSN degree and pass my learning onto others by giving them life saving and good medical care.

Also, it taught me to be the best mom I could be with my three sons who are now giving to others.
One did so well that the Lord wanted him back to continue for him in heaven. Thank You for being the town Ireton is and God Bless all of you as you keep the town a safe,friendly, accepting place where education is important.

Marlene Natelborg

Hello Ireton!!!

My mom grew up in Ireton, and I visited there almost every year growing up, coming from the Grand Rapids MI area! In fact, I was at the 100th celebration with my family!! I was about 16 then....:)

My grandparents were Trina and Ed VanEngen. My Mom is Thelma Jean (Van Engen) Veltema, still living in Hudsonville,MI.

I love Ireton! I still have many relatives out there, and sadly, rarely do I get the chance to get out there any more. I did get to visit this past February though, that was nice! Hi to my Aunts out there, Carol, Louise, Joyce and Gert!!

We love you all! Have a great time with your celebration!! The web site looks great!!

Carmen (Veltema) Kuncaitis

Byron Center, MI

Good old Ireton, Iowa. What a fantastic place to call home. I left Ireton in 1964. WOW! It is hard to believe 43 years have past. We won't be able to attend the celebration but we will be thinking of everyone having a great time. I'm sure glad to call Ireton home. Best Wishes.

Gary Johnson

Hi everyone. Congratulations!!! 125 years. I enjoyed living in Ireton, I met and became friends with alot of good people. thanks for 10 years of great memories.

Cordially,
Art Bailey

Hello friends,

I wish I could join you for the upcoming celebration. I'm proud to call Ireton home because of it's quiet streets and family atmosphere. Not to mention the great emphasis on kids' programs in the summer (i.e. Little League).

Sincerely,
Craig Broek
Glen Rock, NJ

nice job janet

linda hughes

9 April 2007

Having grown up in Ireton, we both have fond childhood and teenage memories. We are proud to say we were raised in Ireton. We enjoy coming back and visiting relatives.

Being able to bring our children and grandchildren to Ireton to experience the life in a small town and to let them experience life on the farm is very important to both of us. One of our favorite stories is when our kids would go into Ireton and visit Eisma Bros. garage and downtown Ireton and people would say hi and say to them, you must be Don & Kay’s kids. They couldn’t believe people knew them as they didn’t have that experience being from a city. (Of course being with an Eisma or a Houlton made it apparent to the community but the kids didn’t think of that.) When we would get home they would enjoy reading about our visit in the Ireton paper.

We are very thankful for the great education and firm foundation that our schools, churches and foremost our families provided for us.

Don and Kay (Houlton) Eisma & family

28 March 2007

Great website. I've sent the website address to many former Ireton friends. We enjoy reading the many comments. We thoroughly enjoyed the variety program. Keep up the good work and enthusiasm.

Helen & Tony Ver Hoeven

12 March 2007

Nice web site! I was pleasantly surprised to find such an informative and progrssive web site for Ireton.

Pastor Doug Van Aartsen

7 February 2007

Just wanted you to know how much I enjoy the Ireton web site. You have done a wonderful job on it, keep up the good work. We plan on attending the celebration in June and are looking forward to it.

Katherine (Westergard) Still

Farmington, California

Hi greetings from West Africa! Our good friend Joni Byker (Ireton Native), has introduced us to this little town and we are all very excited for the 125 year festivities.  We have enjoyed looking through the web site and getting a 'tour' of the town. Have a great 125th year Ireton!!!!

Bev Kauffledt, Charles Ibsen-Niamey

Niger-West Africa

19 Jan 2007

Just received the mailing concerning the 125th celebration. Sounds like a great opportunity to see some friends and family. Marlene and I both graduated from Ireton Public High School in 1958. We married in 1960 at the Reformed Church and relocated to the Chicago area. We celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary this past October. We have always been very proud to call Ireton our home town and always enjoy visiting friends and family in the Ireton area. Look forward to participating in the celebration in June.

Ken and Marlene Johnson

14 Jan 2007

This is a neat web-site. Thanks for all your hard work.

Kay Mulder

12 Jan 2007

The website looks great

Heather Kaskie

01 Jan 2007

Hello Ireton! Jenn Anacker, D.C. here! I was at my Anacker grandparents for Christmas in Wisconsin and read their Hawarden/Ireton paper and of course read the famous Ardis Eilts Column and also the info on Ireton's 125th celebration! I remember being a little girl during the 100th centenial. I currently live in Boise, Idaho. I would like to purchase a CD. If you could contact me when they are available to purchase on line or call so I can give you my information over the phone, if you don't mind shipping it to me. I am in no hurry but I don't want time to pass and not think of it again. Ireton was a great place to grow up! It taught me alot about the "power of one" in a community, integrity, and also to always be nice and never lie (b/c it was so small that you mom would find out before you got home and also you were related to 1/2 of the community:)Ok so those last 2 factors taught you early on to be accountable for your actions!!! I have pulled from the strength, ethics, and principles that a rural community teaches you. Thanks for all of your hard work! God Bless,

Dr. Jenn Anacker phone #: 208.794.0021 email: dr.anacker@chiroforliving.com

28 Dec 2006

what a cool site for a cool little town in iowa