James B. "Chicki" Tenbusch

James Bernard “Chicki” Tenbusch, age 85, of St. Ignace, Michigan, died Thursday, August 17, 2017, in St. Igance. He was born February 28, 1932, in Harbor Beach, Michigan, to Alfred and Victoria (Carman) Tenbusch. Chicki grew up on the family dairy farm in Harbor Beach. He joined the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. After returning from the service, he began working for Chevrolet in Flint, Michigan. In 1961, he met Evelyn Goyette in Harbor beach through a friend and they married on January 27, 1962. While moving around for work they started their family, raising six children. In 1980, they went to Texas looking for work and when their van broke down in Victoria, Texas, they decided to stay. They wintered in Victoria for several years before permanently moving there for 33 years. While wintering in Texas they summered in St. Ignace and ran Evergreen Market. While in Texas, Chicki worked on the railroad and then in the oil fields and did some construction work. He even helped Red Adair putting out oil fires. Chicki and Evelyn then bought a flea market and operated it with his market on one side and her market on the other side. They owned and operated them until 2010, when they moved back to St. Ignace, Michigan to be closer to family. Chicki was a member of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in St. Ignace. Chicki loved fishing, Hunting and going to the casino. He was a working man who was always trying to fix anything that was broken. He loved Evelyn’s baked goods and also enjoyed his sweets whenever he could find some. Chicki is survived by his wife, Evelyn Tenbusch of St. Ignace; children, Peggy (Melvin) Prather of St. Ignace, Jamie Tenbusch of St. Ignace, Debbie Wallace of Spicewood, Texas, Julie Cunningham of Victoria, Terri Suggs of Victoria, and Belinda (Ken) Parsons of Evert, Michigan; grandchildren, Tracy, Holly, Larry, Karen, Michael, Evan, Belinda, Johnathon, Nicole, Lester, Christopher, Alexander, Jacob, Brandon, Jenifer, Mikey, and Bo; twenty great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; sisters, Virginia Susulla of Harbor Beach and Judy Kinney of Brownstown, Michigan; brother, David Tenbusch of Harbor Beach; sisters-in-law, Viola Tenbusch of Flushing, Michigan and Alberta Banker of Harbor Beach. Chicki is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Kenneth Tenbusch and Bill Tenbusch; sisters Agnes Eaker and Carol Wisenbaugh. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 P.M. at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in St. Ignace. Funeral Mass will follow at 2:00 P.M. Father Frank Ricca will be Celebrant. Interment will be at Rock Falls Cemetery in Harbor Beach, Michigan.

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James B. "Chicki" Tenbusch

February 28, 1932 - August 17, 2017