Carmen Lea DeYoung-Tanis

Carmen Lea DeYoung-Tanis, age 86, of Kalamazoo passed away April 23, 2024. She was born January 21, 1938 in Holland, Michigan to the late Hoyt and Stella Steffens.

As a child in Holland, Carmen fell in love with Lake Michigan. During her teens, Carmen and her family moved to Grosse Pointe, Michigan where she graduated from high school. Carmen majored in music at Calvin College. She was not able to graduate because of her father’s unexpected death and the need for her to support her family.

Following the end of a first marriage, Carmen supported and raised three daughters. Carmen worked in Kalamazoo, eventually joining the W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research and retiring after 20 years of service there.

Carmen was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for half a century, where she sang in the choir and served on various committees.

After the end of first marriages and with children grown, a mutual friend introduced Carmen and Ron. They married in 2001.

Together, Carmen and Ron restored a badly worn condo to be their permanent home.

Carmen and Ron enjoyed sailing on Lake Michigan and in Florida, and traveled in the US and overseas. In later years, they enjoyed visits with family and friends, and quiet times in their condo in the shadow of the woods in Parkview Hills.

Carmen was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather, Garret VandeRiet; daughter, Kimberly Gibney; and brothers, Dennis Steffens, Thomas VandeRiet, and William VandeRiet.

She is survived by her husband, Ronald Tanis; daughters, Lisa Skiba and Tonya (Mike Williams) DeYoung; grandchildren, Hannah (Jamie) Yowler, Matthew DeYoung, Taber Skiba, Garret Skiba, and Connor Gibney; brother, Robert VandeRiet; sister, Donna Peterson; as well as several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 13 at 11:00am at Kalamazoo First Presbyterian Church, 321 W South St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.

Donations in Carmen’s memory may be made to Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes or a charity of your choosing.

To share a memory or leave a condolence for the family visit https://www.langelands.com.