Bernadine G. Tenley

Bernadine G. Tenley, age 97, of Savanna, Illinois died Monday, December 14, 2015 at Big Meadows Nursing Home, Savanna. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. Burial will take place in Savanna Township cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., prior to the service at the funeral home.
Bernadine was born February 21, 1918, the daughter of Otto and Dorthea (Gehlsen) Sorenson, on her grandmother’s farm in Thomson, Illinois. She attended Savanna Schools, and graduated with the Class of 1936. Bernadine married her handsome sailor, Edward Tenley in Clinton, Iowa in 1939. They celebrated 60 years of marriage until Ed passed away on February 4, 1999.
Bernadine graduated from Sterling Beauty School, and loved her chosen career as a beautician for more than 40 years. As a young lady, she worked for Dr. Pauley as an assistant in his office. Bernadine also worked as a bartender on 4th street, which served many railroad men after work, and is also the same railroad her father worked on as a welder.
Bernadine and her husband enjoyed traveling, and visited all 50 states, but loved spending time in Florida the most. She was a great baker and cook, with a specialty of pineapple upside-down cake, which she always made in her special cast iron skillet—that was the secret. She loved knitting and crocheting in her spare time, and made many very detailed sweaters and afghans. She and Ed enjoyed eating out. Their favorite restaurants were Woody’s Rendezvous and The Black Angus where they also danced the night away.
Bernadine is survived by one sister, Dorothy Hinrichsen; two nephews, and special friends, Steve and Joan Sisler. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ed, and one sister, Valiera Bailey.