John Mackie Ironside

John Mackie Ironside, age 78, of Dacula, GA passed away on November 5, 2022. John was born in Hastings, MI to Wellesley and Audra (Densmore) Ironside on June 27, 1944, the eldest of 4 children. John was raised in Hastings and graduated from Hastings High School, with many happy memories of his early days growing up with his sisters and brother along with loving grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins close by.

John went on to attend Western Michigan University, where he was president of his fraternity, Delta Upsilon, graduating with a degree in Business Administration. Shortly after graduation, in 1966, he married his college sweetheart, Susan Mitchell with whom he spent almost 57 wonderful years, raising their two children Lisa and Eric in East Lansing, MI.

John went on to get a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University in civil and environmental engineering, which was to become his lifelong career of nearly 40 years. He spent his career working on various projects of water treatment solutions, all with the goal of providing safe/clean water and solving environmental issues. His projects were located throughout Michigan and other locations within the US. John worked in East Lansing for the engineering firms of Capitol Consultants, Rust Environmental, Earth Tech and Malcolm Pirnie. In 2003, he and Susan moved to Atlanta, GA where John joined the firm of HDR. He was a member of Michigan and Georgia Water Environment Associations, American Water Works Association, Association of Conservation Engineers and was appointed to the National Board of Directors of Water Environment Federation (WEF), earning many awards for outstanding achievement and excellence.

John had many special interests including his great fondness for travel and adventure. Over the years, he and Susan spent time visiting with family and friends in Florida, Colorado and Michigan including many trips with the children and grandchildren. John and Susan loved to travel the world, visiting all 7 continents. Destinations included the US including Alaska and Hawaii, Canada, Europe, Great Britain, Egypt, China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, South America with Machu Picchu, and South Africa with game drives. In later years, John and Susan enjoyed “Sailing the Seven Seas”, cruising the many waterways of the world, rounding both Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn.

John’s other great love included his 1921 Model T. John worked alongside his Dad to restore the “T” when he was about 11 years old. He and Susan loved to drive the car around the neighborhood and toured with the South Carolina Model T Ford Club. The whole family loved to gather at Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI every September for great fun, driving the Model T at the Old Car Festival, where John’s family had gathered 50 years earlier.

John had a magnificent trait of being there for others, always willing to lend a hand to help family and friends. He was known as “Mr. Fix It” with family and could build or repair just about anything. He worked on many projects over the years. For leisure, John loved to play golf, fish, hike and was a coach to son Eric’s hockey team.

John is preceded in death by his parents Wellesley and Audra Ironside, sister Martha Ironside, in-laws Betsy and Bob Kiebler and Robert Kraft, niece Elizabeth Kraft, and cousin Nancy Ironside. Surviving John are his beloved wife Susan Ironside, his loving children, daughter Lisa (Jeff) Reel of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and son Eric (Kelly) Ironside of Broomfield, CO, grandchildren Hayden, Davis, Mackenzie and John, sister Marilyn Kraft of Hessel, MI, brother Robert (Pat) Ironside of Pinehurst, NC, nieces Kristin (Lanny) Green, Stephanie (John) Merfeld, Jennifer Coe and Errin (John) Wagner, nephews Sean (Lyndsay) Kiebler, RC (Lindsay) Kraft, Barron (Tate) Berger, and cousins SuEllen Sterling, Gary (Jennifer) Storkan, Gene Storkan, Mary Storkan and Chip (Bev) Ironside.

According to John’s wishes, a Celebration of Life is planned for June, 2023 in Michigan. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (www.lungcancerresearchfoundation.org), contribute to an environmental cause of your choice, or simply enjoy some travels in John’s memory.