Irvin grew up on a dairy farm in rural Steele Co. near Hope, MN. He attended District #76 (across the fence from his farm) and graduated from Ellendale High School in 1950. After school, Irvin served his country in the United States Army 72nd Armer Division from 1954–1956. He was stationed in Fort Riley, Fort Knox and Fort Lewis as a Tank Gunner. On September 20, 1964 Irvin was united in marriage to Kathleen Joanne Nelson at the First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove. Irvin was a dairy farmer, school bus driver for Nelson Bus Service, a gravel truck driver for Nelson Gravel Co., and owner/operator of a milk truck, picking up from local dairy farms for delivery to Albert Lea Co-op Creamery and Mid-American Dairymen Inc. in Twin Lakes for over 30 years. Irvin farmed until the time of his death. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove, American Legion Post #56, VFW and Corn and Soybean Growers Association. Irvin enjoyed selling seed corn and soybeans. He restored Minneapolis Moline tractors and took them to the fair. Irvin truly loved his time spent on the farm and most of all rock picking with his grandchildren. He enjoyed yearly trips to Wisconsin Dells with the family and going to his grandchildren’s activities. Most of all Irvin appreciated spending time with his family and having the whole family over for Sunday dinner following church. 

Survivors include his wife Kathy of 49 years; children Cindy (David) Callahan, Chris (Kim) Jensen and Colette (Cory) Bauers all of Clarks Grove; grandchildren Logan and Dakota Callahan, Travis and Alyssa Jensen and Nathan, Aaron and Sabrina Bauers; sisters Luella Hatteberg of Blooming Prairie and Meryl Nuszloch of Owatonna; father-in-law Milton (Marguerite) Nelson of Clarks Grove; brother-in-law Ken Nelson of Clarks Grove; sister-in-law Michelle (Paul) Kelm of Faribault; and many nieces and nephews.

Irvin was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law Dardie Nelson and brother-in-law Ken Hatteberg.