Staff
Our dedicated staff members are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.
Pictured from left: Tony Cucarola, David Tennant, Dave Schuppe, Dave Tennant, Connie Unrein, Mark Unrein, Jennifer Tennant, Rod McClaran, Justin Tennant, Chuck Glaser
David W. Tennant was born in Sterling, Colorado, in 1953. He attended Sterling Schools graduating from Sterling High School in 1972. He then attended Northeastern Junior College graduating in 1974. After NJC he started his formal mortuary training at the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science graduating in 1975.
He returned to Colorado working in Sterling for a few years then in Denver. He managed a funeral home and flower shop in Lead, South Dakota for several years until he was presented the opportunity to start and manage the Archdiocese of Denver Funeral Home at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Denver. In 1985 Dave left Mt. Olivet when he purchased Hettinger Funeral Home back in his hometown of Sterling.
Dave has been a licensed or certified funeral director/embalmer for 44 years. He is currently the Coroner for Logan County and is a Certified Death Investigator also trained in eye enucleation. Dave holds certification and licenses in Colorado, South Dakota and Nebraska.
He is a member of the First Christian Church, Sterling Rotary Club, Sterling Elks Lodge, Sons of the American Legion, and the NRA. He is a former board member of Northeastern Junior College Foundation, Hospice of the Plains, Sterling Arts Council, Family Resource Center, and High Plains Easter Seals.
Dave also operated an art studio producing stained glass windows, bronze and marble sculptures, sign lettering, and acrylic paintings. He enjoys golfing and working out. He married his wife Vicki in 1977 and has 4 children, and 6 grandchildren.
Dave has also owned and operated funeral homes in Holyoke, Haxtun, and Julesburg, Colorado.
David E. Tennant was raised in Sterling after parents Dave and Vicki bought Hettinger Funeral Home in 1985. He attended Sterling schools and graduated from Sterling High School in 1999. He then graduated from Devry University in Phoenix in 2002 with his bachelors in Computer Information Systems. He returned to Sterling and started working at Tennant Funeral Home in 2004. David went back to school for Mortuary Science, graduating from Arapahoe Community College in 2008. David is a Certified Crematory Operator through the National Funeral Directors Association.
David has also been a Certified Death Investigator since 2007 and is currently the Chief Deputy Coroner in Logan County. He is a member of the Sterling Lions Club and the Sterling Elks Lodge. He enjoys numerous things, but especially golfing, shooting pool, and various landscaping projects. David is a single dad living in Sterling with his 2 boys, Toren and Talon.
Justin is a dedicated funeral service professional with deep roots in northeastern Colorado. A 2002 graduate of Sterling High School, Justin went on to earn an associate degree in Psychology from Northeastern Junior College in 2004, followed by an Associate of Applied Science in Mortuary Science from Arapahoe Community College. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer, having successfully passed the National Board Exams.
Justin’s involvement in funeral service began early, helping at his family’s business in high school by mowing lawns and assisting at services. He began working full-time as a funeral director and embalmer in 2005. From 2007 to 2017, Justin managed the Austin-Tennant Funeral Home in Julesburg, CO. Following the sale of that location, he returned full-time to the Sterling area, continuing his work in the family firm.
In addition to his role as a funeral director, Justin serves as a Deputy Coroner for Logan County and earned his Death Investigator Certification through the Colorado Coroners Association in 2006.
Justin and his wife, Jennifer who also serves as the office manager are proud parents of two children, Teagan and Jackson. Outside of work, Justin enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, golfing, and playing guitar.
