Shane Walter Vancena

Shane Walter Vancena, of Temperance, Michigan, passed away during the morning of January 24, 2021. He was 48.
Legendary. This single word represents what Shane was to those that knew him best. Big, Biggie, Big Shane, Shane-O was a gentle giant of a man. Standing at 6'7" tall, his presence was always felt and he had an even bigger heart. He spent his entire life loving, caring, and stressing over those that mattered to him most – his mother Sandy (Vancena), his grandmother Betty (Barnes), his sister Nicole (Hite) as well as his close family and friends. In June of 2000, Shane married the love of his life, Tara (Signs) Vancena. Shane spent the next 20+ years of his life as a proud and devoted husband and father. His children, Aiyana, Jacy and Denver became his joy. He took great pride in his children and is extremely proud of who they have become – each of them mirroring his characteristics and traits.
His personality was infectious and his sense of humor was contagious. Because of his size and engaging demeanor, he became known as a walking party favor. He could turn any environment or gathering into a party that nobody wanted to miss, including some of his favorite dive bars – The Ida Tavern and the former Steve's Tavern. He also possessed an acute ability to identify a person's stress or weakness and then deploy an unrelenting amount of sarcasm and wit in order to brighten even the most difficult of situations. His favorite targets were his cousins, Jason (Eighmey), Stephen (Eighmey) and his nephew Lucas (Hite). To those that knew him best, he was also extremely stubborn and would rebel against anything he didn't agree with …just because he could. He was entirely incapable of feeling any embarrassment, often converting situations that most would consider embarrassing into a ploy for humor typically at the expense of his kids or family.
He was a 1990 graduate of Bedford High School in Temperance, MI. For the last 25+ years, he was employed by the Lucas County Correctional Treatment Facility serving as a shift supervisor.
Shane enjoyed a simple life and would be the first person to give the shirt off his back for someone in need. He enjoyed golfing with a group of family and friends that he referred to as the CGGL, his abbreviation for his self-proclaimed "Cool Guys Golf League." He also enjoyed fishing, playing on the family softball team, and wood working in the "Wood Shame," his home garage converted into a wood working shop and man-cave. He was a contributor and self-proclaimed spokesmodel for a local charity organization T.H.A.N.K.S., Inc. (Tailgaters Helping Aid Needy Kids' Spirits, Inc.).
Shane found his greatest joy and comfort while vacationing at his grandmother's cottage on Big Lake located on Manitoulin Island, ON, Canada; generating a lifetime of memories from the frequent road-trips with his immediate and extended family. He had the uncanny knack for always catching the biggest fish, telling the best stories, and mixing up the best drink combination in his self-invented "Fug Jug."
Shane is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 20 years, Tara; his loving children, Aiyana, Jacy, and Denver; his mother, Sandra Vancena; his sister, Nicole (Bernard) Hite and two nephews, Lucas and Max; his uncle, Ron (Kathy) Eighmey; his aunt, Shelly (Tim) George; his uncle, Keith Barnes; his stepgrandfather, Dale Barnes; and his mother-in-law, Evalee Signs.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Walter Eighmey; his grandmother, Betty Barnes (Eighmey); his uncle, David Eighmey; and his father-in-law, Thomas Signs.
Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Thursday, January 28, 2021, at the Michael W. Pawlak Funeral Home, 1640 Smith Rd. (at Jackman) Temperance, MI, where a celebration of his life will follow at 7:00 p.m. The family asks that instead of flowers donations can be made in his honor to the T.H.A.N.K.S., Inc. organization (www.thanksinc.com, www.facebook.com/THANKSINCORP).