Thomas Francis Stornant Sr.

2018. Born on August 17,1927, he was the son of two Italian immigrants, Carmen Stornant and

Francis (Sava) Stornant.

He was raised together with his 8 siblings in a traditional Italian

Catholic home, where faith, family and food were the foundation. Tom attended St. Mary’s High School where met and fell in love with his sweetheart, Anna Nico. While a student there, Tom found his true calling as the class entertainer and “chauffeur” to the nuns and priests. On Saturdays, he could be found on the football field as the standout center for the St Mary’s Blues football team. His true love for the game was apparent in the way he would retell his stories which will be remembered by his loved ones for years to come. After a short stint with the semi-professional football team, the Holland Hurricanes, Tom and Anna were married and started their family. Together they raised ten children at 316 N. Jenison,

a home that always had sauce and meatballs on the stove for Sunday dinner after mass, music

playing in the living room, and Pabst Blue Ribbon in the refrigerator. The backyard was

affectionately known to many as the infamous Jenison Avenue Field House, and all the

neighborhood congregated to play sports day and night. Tom’s greatest pride was in the family

unit he created with Anna, and he was most content when Stornants were gathered together.

Tom spent 30 years with Spadafore distributing as a sales manager. If he wasn’t calling on a

client for a quick repair or to install a draft system, he was on the top row of the bleachers

watching his kids’ or grandchildren’s sporting events. Probably known best for his humor, Tom

could make anyone laugh with a smart joke or witty comment. He also enjoyed woodworking,

exercising at the MAC or the YMCA, and just simply sitting on the porch to water his lawn.

Mostly, he loved his family.

Tom is preceded in death by his wife Anna (Nico) Stornant, son David Stornant, grandson

Alonso “Bonz” Collar, his parents Carmen and Francis (Sava) Stornant, and his 8 siblings.

Surviving are his children Claudia (Henry) Lotoszinski, Dionne Reynolds, Thomas (Maryellen)

Stornant Jr., Stefeni (Alonso) Collar, Steve (Barb) Stornant, Paul Stornant, Mary Sue (Russell)

Lundberg, Michael (Amy) Stornant, Amy Jo Robinson; his grandchildren Michelle (Chris) Corey,

Kimberly (Ford) Turrell, David (Suzanne) Reynolds, Anna Stornant, Sarah Stornant, Thomas

(Stacey) Stornant III, Kera Stornant, Alina (John) Gale, Anthony Collar, Ashleigh (Aaron)

Michaud, Alexander Collar, Nicole (Jeremy) Jones, Claudia Lundberg, Robert Lundberg,

Gabriele Stornant, Domenic Stornant; and his great grandchildren Samuel Corey, Christopher

Corey, Carmen Jones, Amelia Turrell, Evelyn Turrell, Caroline Gale, Thomas Stornant IV, and

Abigail Michaud.

Visitation will be held 7-9 pm Sun., Sept. 16, 2018 at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 E. Grand River Ave. East Lansing, MI with a Rosary Service beginning at 7:30 pm.

A Funeral Mass will be held 10am Mon., Sept. 17, 2018 at St. Mary Cathedral, 219 Seymour Lansing, MI with Rev. Karl L. Pung Officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment to follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lansing, MI.

The family would appreciate donations be made to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Tom’s name for a fund to be set up for renovations.

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Lansing, MI. Online condolences and memories may be made to the family at www.greastlansing.com.