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“They were playing Cousino and all of my kids had gone to Cousino, so they were all going to the game too,” Lessnau said. “I didn’t think anything was weird.”

As Lessnau and her daughter made their way down Schoenherr, they began to encounter traffic. Her daughter began to become a bit concerned that they were not going to make it to the field on time.

“I really thought nothing of it, until she got kind of concerned because she thought we would be late,” said Lessnau. “I told her, Œjust tell (your brother) to save our seats.’”

But things began to get even fishier from there. As Lessnau began heading up to the bleachers, her daughter grabbed her arm and led her to the field instead. It was there that Lessnau saw her son, a Stevenson band booster. And it was then that she began to hear her name being called over the loudspeaker as her six grandchildren, who had participated in Stevenson’s band program since 1990 under the direction of Michael Sekich, began to take the field.

All were there to honor Lessnau, whose oldest grandchild is a senior in the band program this year. For 19 years, Lessnau has served as a band booster, attending nearly every football game, concert and event and cheering on the band at parades, even in freezing cold conditions.

“She started with band boosters in 1990 with my oldest niece, who was the first drum major for Mr. Sekich,” said Lessnau’s daughter, Connie Hannenberg. “It just so happens that my siblings and I all live in the same area, so all of our children have attended Stevenson. There was only one year where one of our children wasn’t a band student there.”

Hannenberg said she estimates that her mother has been to more than 75 football games and concerts and served in concession booths and worked as a fundraiser for other booster projects, helping students earn money for band trips and programs.

“She has always been there for all six of her grandchildren,” said Hannenberg. “I remember she went in the freezing cold to Eastern Michigan University to watch them march. It was bitterly cold and snowing out there, but she still went.”

Last spring, Hannenberg and her siblings approached Sekich about honoring Lessnau at the year’s first football game. The band director said he immediately was on board.

“I don’t think she’s ever missed a football game in those 19 years,” Sekich said. “It’s one of those families that you just love to see at everything; they’re so involved. I love doing stuff like this and I love being able to honor someone who’s given so much back to our program.”

During the ceremony, all six of Lessnau’s children joined her on the football field and a tribute was read over the public address system citing her participation. She was presented with a fleece jacket, which had been embroidered with her grandchildren’s names and the years they graduated. Then, Lessnau received an honor usually reserved for students: her very own band letter.

“I was absolutely surprised,” said Lessnau. “It was really a lovely ceremony.”

Lessnau worked in the Warren Consolidated Schools district for several years before retiring and said her involvement with the Stevenson Band was simply a way to stay in touch with students and be a part of the educational process.

“I keep doing it because I really am just a lover of kids,” she said. “I just really enjoy being around them.”

Even though her eldest grandchild will graduate next spring, Lessnau said she will still sit in the bleachers to enjoy the music of the band and cheer on the team.

“I’ll definitely be here,” she said. “I really enjoy coming to the games. It’s a lot of fun.”