Surnames: Tennis, Pinion, Schultz, Domer, Johnson, Fischer, Bloom, Kauffmann, Laack, Jost, Shelly

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark Co., Wis.) 05/11/1961

Tennis, M. J. (15 July 1903 - 3 May 1961)

Funeral services for M. J. Tennis of Unity, age 57, executive vice president of the Colby State Bank, who died at 5:00 P.M. last week Wednesday afternoon in the University Hospital at Madison of complications following a stroke, were held Saturday morning in St. Mary’s Catholic church. Internment was made in the parish cemetery.

Rev. John B. Pinion officiated. Pallbearers were William Schultz, Ted Domer, Forrest Johnson, Donald Fischer, Leo Bloom and Fred Kauffmann. Directors of the Colby State Bank served as honorary pall bearers.

Mr. Tennis, a lifelong resident of the Unity, Wisconsin area, was born in the town of Unity, Clark county, on July 15, 1903, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tennis. He began his banking career when he was 18, following his graduation from Unity High School. He was employed as a teller by the Unity State Bank. When that institution merged with the Colby State Bank he became cashier and director of the combined bank. He later rose to the post of executive vice president.

Mr. Tennis served his community for 25 years as village clerk and for the last five years he has been a trustee on the village board. He was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters.

On September 22, 1923, he was married in Dorchester to Edna Laack who survives him. Other survivors are three children, Jerome Tennis, at home, and Mrs. Leon Jost and Mrs. Erland Shelley, both of Unity; two brothers, Sylvester Tesmer of Kimberly and Bernard Tennis of the town of Unity and five grand children.

Mr. Tennis was held in high esteem by residents of Colby and Unity for his fine Christian character. His sudden death came as a shock to his many friends who will miss him.