Grandkids lovingly called him, “Grumpy,” his children called him Dad, God called him home.
Gary Lee Tennant, age 72, of Rudyard Michigan, died on January 13th, 2024, with his loving family by his side. He was born on November 22, 1951, in Manistique Michigan to parents Clyde and Dolly (Pincombe) Paulus.
Gary grew up in Onaway Michigan where he attended Onaway High School. He joined the United States Navy in 1972 and was stationed all over the United States of America during his twenty years of service. He traveled the world three times over aboard the USS Enterprise, USS John F. Kennedy, and USS Iwo Jima. He was a proud veteran of the evacuation of Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He married Sally (Paulus) Tennant on May 18, 1982. They combined and grew their family over the next 41 years. After retirement in 1994, they settled on Pealine Road in Rudyard Michigan with their 4 children where he spent the rest of his days enjoying his retirement and making memories with his children and grandchildren.
Gary enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating and tinkering around the house and garage. He loved to tell the story of venturing out into the Munuscong Bay through the river mouth and getting turned around trying to find his way back to the boat launch at the Munuscong river campground. Of all the adventures he had after retirement his greatest joy and reason for living was spending time and making memories with his children and grandchildren. He will be so greatly missed!
Gary is survived by his wife of forty-one years, Sally of The Pealine Road and their children: Gary (Christina) Tennant and their children, Kathleen (Adam) and baby Noah, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Samantha, and Johanna of Ahuano, South America; Bradley Tennant and son Jordan of Pickford; Jennifer (John) Bennett and their children, Crystyn (Grant) and baby Adelinne, CJ (Jada), Cole, Jennica, Corey, and Jennesa of Hessel; John (Kara) Tennant and their children Casey, Anna, Destiny and baby Timmy of Pickford; Siblings, Beverly “Jeanie” (Mike) McCreery, Harvey (Noreen) Tennant, Bill Tennant, Becky Tennant, and Lydia Westfelt, as well as many other nieces and nephews and cousins.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Dolly; brother “Sparky” Tennant; sisters Lonnie Miller and (infant) Nada Tennant; and grandson Jaisen Lee Joseph Cornwell.
A Celebration of Life and Evening of Reminiscing will take place Summer of 2024 at a date to be announced to honor Gary and let his memory live on in those who loved him most at his favorite place to be, “The Pealine Road.”
Family Life Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com.
Obituary as submitted by family.
