Virginia S. Tennant
a founding member of the Dearborn Orchestral Society passed away on April 24, 2015.
Born: Virginia Hermina Stoyke
Parents: Herman Oscar Eugene Stoyke
Irene (Brunner) Stoyke
Born: May 20, 1914 in Detroit, MI
Died: April 24, 2015 in Ovid, MI
Married: William Hazelhurst Tennant on May 4, 1940 in Detroit
Preceding Her in Death: Her Parents: Herman & Irene Stoyke
Husband: William H. Tennant (1991 in St. Johns, MI)
Two Sisters: Irene Diehl & Katherine Scharffe
Survived By: Son William (Joianne) Tennant (St Johns, MI)
Daughter Ann (Robert) Miller (Vass, NC)
Son James (Katherine Austin) Tennant (Hamilton, New Zealand)
Brother-In-Law Ralph Tennant (Royal Oak, MI)
Daughter-In-Law Lesley Dawes (Auckland, New Zealand)
Grandchildren William D Tennant (Portland, OR)
Rob Miller (Climax, MI)
Kristin (Jason Berg) Tennant (Urbana, IL)
Katchen Miller (Kings Mtn, NC)
Yon (Pamela Hardy) Tennant (Sydney, Australia)
Nathaniel Tennant (Auckland, New Zealand)
Elani Tennant (Hamilton, New Zealand)
Great Grandchildren Havah Berg (Urbana, IL)
Quillin Bakker (Urbana, IL)
Saskia Bakker (Urbana, IL)
Many Nieces & Nephews
She grew up in Bay City, graduating from Bay City Central HS in 1932. She moved backed to Detroit and attended Wayne State University. She was a hairstylist, bank teller and nurses aide, also living in Dearborn, Atlanta and St Johns, MI.
She was a wonderful singer and pianist, singing opera and in church choirs – was a member of various musical organizations in the Detroit area and a founding member of the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra. Her enthusiasm for music lead her to give the seed money for the Performance Shell in St. Johns.
She was also an avid outdoors person enjoying golf, tennis, hiking and cross-country skiing. She enjoyed camping with her family on trips throughout the United States and then later traveling with her husband to many destinations around the world. She was also an excellent Bridge player.
She devoted her entire life to volunteering in many different capacities including Lansing’s Central United Methodist Church Open Door Ministry, especially helping those less fortunate, making the world a better place for many, many people.
She was devoted to her family, giving her children many opportunities and experiences. Her love of family was far reaching as she corresponded with grandchildren, great-grandchildren and with her many nieces and nephews and their children.
Visitation will take place on Monday, May 4 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, 1500 Waterford Parkway, St Johns, MI 48879
Services will be held on Tuesday, May 5 at 11:00 a.m. at Central United Methodist Church, 215 N. Capitol Ave, Lansing, MI 48933 with a visitation at 10:00 before the service.
Memorials can be made to: Dearborn Symphony Orchestra
PO Box 2063
Dearborn, Mi 48123
Open Door Ministry
215 N Capitol Ave
Lansing, MI 48933
CCAC Performance Shell
215 N Clinton Ave
St. Johns, MI 48879