Donna Tanis

Donna L. Tanis, 87, of Hopkinton and formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan, died peacefully on Jan. 17, 2025, after a long period of declining health. Born June 6, 1937, she was the daughter of Helen (Branch) and Donald A. Simmons.

Some of Donna’s happiest memories were of growing up in Parchment, Michigan, with her brother and cousins. She was a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and earned a B.S. in pharmacy from Ferris State University in 1959. For three decades, Donna worked as a pharmacist in hospitals and retail pharmacies in Michigan.

From her father, Donna inherited a lifelong affinity for the outdoors. With her former husband, Ronald Tanis, she raised three children at Indian Lake in Vicksburg, Michigan, and enjoyed many summers swimming, sailing and canoeing there. Family camping trips to national parks in the United States and Canada were annual highlights.

A 4-H leader in gardening, Donna earned a master gardener certification from the Michigan State Extension. She transformed her yards in Michigan and Massachusetts into organic wonderlands of flowers, vegetables and pollinators. For Donna, spring began when she could start trays of seeds in her greenhouse.

In retirement, Donna and her partner, Thomas Miller, moved to Sandwich and then to Plymouth. Together, they participated in Senior AmeriCorps, working on environmental projects on Cape Cod. Donna and Tom travelled widely in Europe, Asia and Latin America. They cycled though the Czech Republic and took their boat down the Intracoastal Waterway from Massachusetts to Key West, Florida.

Above all, Donna relished time with her family. Interested in every detail of the lives of her children and grandchildren, she also shared her love of books, sports and the ocean with them. Nothing made her happier than spending an afternoon with the kids on a beach.

Donna is predeceased by her parents; her much-loved son, Ned Tanis; her brother and sister-in-law, Bruce and Judy Simmons; and Tom Miller. She is survived by her daughter, Kathryn Tanis-Greff of Hopkinton; her son, Paul Tanis of Kalamazoo, Michigan; and her grandchildren, Abigail, Margaret and Benjamin Greff, and Sophie Nerine. She also leaves behind several nephews and grandnephews.

A celebration of Donna’s life will be held in Kalamazoo in early summer. Memorial donations may be made to the International Essential Tremor Foundation (essentialtremor.org).

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