Charles Tennant
Maryville |
Charles “Chuck” Everett Tennant, age 82 of Maryville, IL, born December 22, 1938 in Decatur, IL, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, May 9, 2021.
Chuck retired from Airtherm as a National Customer Service Manager. He was a devoted member of First United Presbyterian Church in Collinsville, an elder of the church, and participated in the men’s bible study. Chuck was always concerned for the welfare of others and was an active advocate in the greater Collinsville community serving the public. He began his public service ministry/journey on the Collinsville Park Board where he was responsible for conceiving and advocating for the Collinsville Sports Complex, located on Collinsville Road behind the then Collinsville Waters Works Facility, that was an early example and forerunner of a collaborative effort of a multi-sport complex consisting of baseball, softball & soccer fields and a football field all of which were for the benefit of the volunteer youth sports leagues of the greater Collinsville area. His son Terry even participated by providing the initial detailed building design of the Concession Stand/Restroom/Storage Building while taking Architectural Drafting Classes at the Collinsville Area Vocational Center. Chuck then became an active Collinsville City Commissioner overseeing the Street Department and Parks for 2+ terms.
While still on the Collinsville City Council, his attention then became focused toward and he became a founding member of the Collinsville Metropolitan Exposition Auditorium and Office Building Authority serving on the board of directors of the Gateway Convention Center for over 20 years in various capacities, including a number of terms as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Today the Gateway Center and its staff remain as a living testimony to Chuck and other like-minded volunteer civil servants who had the interests of their fellow citizens and the long-term economic sustainability of Collinsville at heart. Chuck was also a volunteer member of the Collinsville Soccer Association, Khoury League, and the 1976 Bicentennial Committee.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Corinne (nee Toussaint) Tennant; his brother, Jimmy Tennant; and two sisters, Delores (Ed) Highsmith and Sharon (Ronnie) Wrigley.
He is survived by his brother, Ray Dale Tennant; wife of 61 years, Annette (nee Creekmur) Tennant, whom he married August 1, 1959; two sons, Terry (Linda) Tennant of Glen Carbon, IL and Jeffrey (Caron) Tennant of Knoxville, TN; five grandchildren, Meghann, Abby, Olivia, Charles and Lena; and two great-grandchildren, Ellowyn and Eleanor, all of whom he loved dearly.
His family and friends will dearly miss Chuck’s quick wit and humor, he always had at the ready a joke to lighten the room, and his ever-present Can Do Approach to life in spite of the many physical limitations he encountered from Muscular Dystrophy.
Chuck’s wishes were to be cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date to be posted shortly.
Memorials may be made to Muscular Dystrophy Association or the 1st Presbyterian Church in Collinsville, IL and will be received at the funeral home. Check should be made payable to the organization and mailed to 2800 N. Center Street, Maryville, IL 62062.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at barrywilsonfuneralhome.com.
Barry Wilson Funeral Home & Cremation Services
