Tammy Marie Painter, age 62, of Flat Rock, passed away on Friday, January 08, 2021 at her home surrounded by her husband, her children and family. She was under the care of Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care for Metastatic Breast Cancer of the Bone. Tammy was born September 14, 1958, in Monroe to the late Joyce (Dyson) and Lavern Theisen. She was one of seven brothers and sisters. On February 21, 1981 she married Eric Painter at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Monroe. Tammy attended Monroe Public Schools graduating in 1976. She enrolled at Monroe Community College in their Criminal Justice Program. It was there that she met her future husband Eric. Tammy graduated MCCC in 1978 and transferred to Ferris State where she graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in CJ – Law Enforcement as a Certified Police Officer. In 1980 Chief Ray Hoffman hired Tammy beginning her 28-year career with Flat Rock Police Dept. She was the first female police officer in Flat Rock Police Dept. History holding positions and ranks of Animal Control, Patrol Officer, Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Lieutenant and finally her rank at retirement Detective Lieutenant. She retired on September 14, 2008 and is still the only female police officer to retire from the force. Her hard work, attention to detail, along with the ability to utilize both verbal and non-verbal responses to the situations she faced earned her the respect and admiration of many of her male colleagues. She is survived by her husband of 39 years Eric Painter, daughter Kristi (Steve) Hill of Carleton and son Robert Eric (Katie) Painter of Livonia. She was the driving force behind the duo of Meme and Bugga. They have 4 grandchildren Abby Hill, Tyson Hill, Derek Hill and Brody Painter. Sadly, she passed before getting to take part in Robert and Katie 2nd child, a girl due at the end of February. She is also survived by her brothers Randy (Bonnie) Thiesen of Adrian, David (Joan) Theisen of Wilmington NC, Scott (Julie) Theisen of Lambertville, sisters Linda (Larry) Lake of Hampstead NC and Sally (Mark) Gruber of Monroe. She was proceeded in death by her parents Joyce (Dyson) Theisen, October 30, 1982 and Lavern Theisen December 13, 2020. Her sister Nancy Bellg also proceeded her. Her cremation will take place at “The Witness Crematory” located inside of Michigan Memorial Funeral Home. A memorial luncheon to follow at a later date.
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