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William Tanner

February 13, 1943 - April 5, 2013

William Dale Tanner, 70, died at 3:55 pm on April 5th, at Millers Merry Manor in Plymouth, In., following a lengthy struggle with dementia. His family was at his bedside. Bill was born in Plymouth, In., to Robert and Virginia Ruggles Tanner, and resided in and around Plymouth most of his life. He graduated from PHS in 1961. He was an accomplished musician and excelled in the music department and received many awards and medals for both vocal and instrumental music. Bill also graduated from the Culver Military Academy Summer Naval School. Bill attended IU School of Music, and graduated with a degree in music education. While at IU, he was a member of the Singing Hoosiers, the Marching 100, and Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity. His major instrument was piano and a minor in trumpet. He married Carolyn Rowe on Aug. 21, 1965. There they had three sons, David, Dan and Joe. Bill loved to go on vacations with the family, go to theme parks with his kids and enjoyed occasional trips to Wrigley Field. Bill taught in the Triton and Oregon Davis school systems. He was very influential in the development and growth of their instrumental music programs. He touched the lives of many students. Bill loved teaching and he opened the Teachers Music Studio with Charlie Atkins, in South Bend. He also had studios in Plymouth at JR Music Service, and Wagoner’s Music Store. Bill played professionally most of his adult life. He started with a jazz trio and later joined with Roger Kronk and his band “Little Roger and the Dixieland Giants”. Bill also played with several South Bend bands, taking part in the Park Concert series and the Elkhart Jazz Festival. He was very devoted to the First Presbyterian church and provided such beautiful music. In 1969, he became the organist and choir director and he continued all his musical activities until his illness forced him to retire. Surviving are his sons: David (Michelle), their children, Zach, Jon, Sarah, and Andrew; Dan (Jeanne) and their children, Maggie, Lauren, Sam, Claire, and Leah; Joseph (Ashli) and their child, Alex. He is also survived by his sister Jeannie (Bill) Adams, and their children Brad Ebert and Michael Adams; his Aunt Betty Ruggles and her children, Ann Bowser and Jim Ruggles; and his former wife, Carolyn Rowe Tanner.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Hubert and Helen Tomlinson Tanner, Cliff and Ruth Ruggles, his parents Robert and Virginia Tanner, his second wife Cindy Scroggs Tanner and several aunts and uncles. Bills tremendous musical talent will be remembered by so many who heard and enjoyed his delightful performances. His Grandfather, Hubert, Grandmother Ruth and his mother, Virginia were all accomplished musicians. His sons are all musically talented, and his granddaughter, Sarah, is an accomplished musician at the age of 15. Bill’s legacy will live on through them. We would like to thank all the nurses and doctors at Bremen Community Hospital, SJRMC in Plymouth, and the compassionate and kind care provided to Bill at Miller’s Merry Manor in Plymouth. Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 from 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 401 North Walnut Street, Plymouth. A Memorial service will follow in the church at 7:00 p.m. with Rev. Jean Spark officiating. The Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home will be assisting with the services.
Burial will be in the Oakhill Cemetery on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Marshall County Human Society, P.O. Box 22, Plymouth, IN 46563.

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Condolence Messages

  1. Susie Reinholt says

    April 5, 2013 at 7:05 pm

    My condolences go out to the Tanner family. The PHS Class of 1961 have many, many fond memories of Bill and his extraordinary musical talent. He was indeed one of the best! Please know that you are in my heart and prayers.

    Reply
  2. Janet Metsker Smith says

    April 5, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    Dear family,
    The PHS Class remember Bill as an excellent music student. He has shared his music talents with many through the years. Our classmate and friend will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

    The 1961 Class of PHS

    Reply
  3. Donna Frushour says

    April 6, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    David, Dan, and family,

    We are so sorry to hear of your father\’s passing. Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers. Remember that he has gone to a better place and is no longer suffering. One day we will all meet up with our Lord and Savior.

    With deepest sympathy,

    Donna, Mark, Anthony, Trevor, and Thomas Frushour

    Reply
  4. Jan Wagoner says

    April 6, 2013 at 4:47 pm

    Bill had an amazing ear and passion for music, and he shared his talent with so many. We were fortunate that he was part of our teaching staff at Wagoner\’s Music Shop for many years. Bill had deep compassion for animals, and cared greatly for his family. My condolences to all who are grieving this loss.

    Reply
  5. Donna Taber Whitmer says

    April 6, 2013 at 8:13 pm

    Dear Jeannie and the Tanner Family,
    I am saddened to learn of Bill\’s death. I danced to his tunes on many happy occasions in my life. He will now join in the angelic music heard in heaven…. and so it continues….

    Donna Taber Whitmer

    Reply
  6. Loretta Bowes says

    April 7, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    My condolences on the loss of your father. May he rest in peace.

    Reply
  7. Joan, Dick, and Patrick Joyce says

    April 7, 2013 at 7:43 pm

    To the Tanner Family,
    One cannot think of Bill without placing a piano in front of him and hearing wonderful music being played. A special favorite of all – ragtime music! He has left a profound musical heritage, and it is wonderful that his granddaughter is carrying on that inherited musical gift. The Presbyterian Church was always grateful for Bill\’s talents being shared with them through worship services and all kinds of fun social activities. There will never be another Bill Tanner!

    His illness has been a long, difficult struggle. Our sympathy and prayers go out to the entire family.

    Reply
  8. toni ford says

    April 7, 2013 at 10:50 pm

    dear dan and david my deepest condolence on the death of your father. have many happy memories of pcu working with you. my love to you both toni ford sjrmc.

    Reply
  9. Ed Barcus and Family says

    April 8, 2013 at 2:20 am

    David and Dan and Families,

    Sorry to hear of your father\’s passing. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

    Reply
  10. Sandi & Ed Madden says

    April 8, 2013 at 10:05 am

    We are so sorry to hear of Bill\’s death. He has had a long struggle…but leaves such a beautiful musical legacy behind! May you find comfort in all your wonderful memories! Praying for the Holy Spirit to bring much peace during this time.

    Reply
  11. karri harris says

    April 9, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    Dan
    Iam so sorry for your loss . I have many memories of your dad from when we were kids .He was a very sweet man
    karri bottorff harris

    Reply
  12. Barb Dunbar says

    April 9, 2013 at 6:51 pm

    I am sorry to here of your loss. Bill Tanner was my music teacher in school. I enjoyed his class very much. He was a great guy. He will be missed.

    Reply
  13. SANDRA BOTSET says

    April 10, 2013 at 12:14 am

    Dear Tanner Family,
    SO SADDENED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR FARHERS ILLNESS. HE CERTAINLY LEFT A LOT OF MEMORIES IN THE MUSIC WORLD.HE ALSO WAS A GOOD FRIEND. I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE THE STRENGTH. FOR THE HARD DAYS COMING UP.

    SINCERELY
    SANDY BOTSET AND TODD AND JOHN

    Reply
  14. Steve Listenberger says

    April 10, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    Dan I was sorry to hear about Your Dad, well wishes to You and Your Family.

    Reply
  15. cliff zeider says

    April 10, 2013 at 4:44 pm

    My condolences to Bills family, Bill will be missed by all who knew him. cliff

    Reply
  16. sue and terry engeman says

    April 11, 2013 at 8:19 pm

    David, Dan, and Carolyn, After so many years it was wonderful to talk with all of you again. After PCU at SJRMC and the Musicians Union and the gigs we had such fond memories of you and lso of Bill.
    Sue and Terry Engeman

    Reply
  17. Becki Hampton Felten says

    April 20, 2013 at 2:51 pm

    To the Tanner family,

    My condolences. I had the pleasure of being in school with Bill and enjoying his many musical talents, in the high school choir and the ensembles. What a talent he was! God\’s blessings be with all of you at this time.

    Becki Hampton Felten
    PHS 1962

    Reply
  18. Susie Reinholt says

    April 5, 2013 at 7:05 pm

    My condolences go out to the Tanner family. The PHS Class of 1961 have many, many fond memories of Bill and his extraordinary musical talent. He was indeed one of the best! Please know that you are in my heart and prayers.

    Reply
  19. Janet Metsker Smith says

    April 5, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    Dear family,
    The PHS Class remember Bill as an excellent music student. He has shared his music talents with many through the years. Our classmate and friend will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

    The 1961 Class of PHS

    Reply
  20. Donna Frushour says

    April 6, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    David, Dan, and family,

    We are so sorry to hear of your father\’s passing. Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers. Remember that he has gone to a better place and is no longer suffering. One day we will all meet up with our Lord and Savior.

    With deepest sympathy,

    Donna, Mark, Anthony, Trevor, and Thomas Frushour

    Reply
  21. Jan Wagoner says

    April 6, 2013 at 4:47 pm

    Bill had an amazing ear and passion for music, and he shared his talent with so many. We were fortunate that he was part of our teaching staff at Wagoner\’s Music Shop for many years. Bill had deep compassion for animals, and cared greatly for his family. My condolences to all who are grieving this loss.

    Reply
  22. Donna Taber Whitmer says

    April 6, 2013 at 8:13 pm

    Dear Jeannie and the Tanner Family,
    I am saddened to learn of Bill\’s death. I danced to his tunes on many happy occasions in my life. He will now join in the angelic music heard in heaven…. and so it continues….

    Donna Taber Whitmer

    Reply
  23. Loretta Bowes says

    April 7, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    My condolences on the loss of your father. May he rest in peace.

    Reply
  24. Joan, Dick, and Patrick Joyce says

    April 7, 2013 at 7:43 pm

    To the Tanner Family,
    One cannot think of Bill without placing a piano in front of him and hearing wonderful music being played. A special favorite of all – ragtime music! He has left a profound musical heritage, and it is wonderful that his granddaughter is carrying on that inherited musical gift. The Presbyterian Church was always grateful for Bill\’s talents being shared with them through worship services and all kinds of fun social activities. There will never be another Bill Tanner!

    His illness has been a long, difficult struggle. Our sympathy and prayers go out to the entire family.

    Reply
  25. toni ford says

    April 7, 2013 at 10:50 pm

    dear dan and david my deepest condolence on the death of your father. have many happy memories of pcu working with you. my love to you both toni ford sjrmc.

    Reply
  26. Ed Barcus and Family says

    April 8, 2013 at 2:20 am

    David and Dan and Families,

    Sorry to hear of your father\’s passing. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

    Reply
  27. Sandi & Ed Madden says

    April 8, 2013 at 10:05 am

    We are so sorry to hear of Bill\’s death. He has had a long struggle…but leaves such a beautiful musical legacy behind! May you find comfort in all your wonderful memories! Praying for the Holy Spirit to bring much peace during this time.

    Reply
  28. karri harris says

    April 9, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    Dan
    Iam so sorry for your loss . I have many memories of your dad from when we were kids .He was a very sweet man
    karri bottorff harris

    Reply
  29. Barb Dunbar says

    April 9, 2013 at 6:51 pm

    I am sorry to here of your loss. Bill Tanner was my music teacher in school. I enjoyed his class very much. He was a great guy. He will be missed.

    Reply
  30. SANDRA BOTSET says

    April 10, 2013 at 12:14 am

    Dear Tanner Family,
    SO SADDENED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR FARHERS ILLNESS. HE CERTAINLY LEFT A LOT OF MEMORIES IN THE MUSIC WORLD.HE ALSO WAS A GOOD FRIEND. I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE THE STRENGTH. FOR THE HARD DAYS COMING UP.

    SINCERELY
    SANDY BOTSET AND TODD AND JOHN

    Reply
  31. Steve Listenberger says

    April 10, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    Dan I was sorry to hear about Your Dad, well wishes to You and Your Family.

    Reply
  32. cliff zeider says

    April 10, 2013 at 4:44 pm

    My condolences to Bills family, Bill will be missed by all who knew him. cliff

    Reply
  33. sue and terry engeman says

    April 11, 2013 at 8:19 pm

    David, Dan, and Carolyn, After so many years it was wonderful to talk with all of you again. After PCU at SJRMC and the Musicians Union and the gigs we had such fond memories of you and lso of Bill.
    Sue and Terry Engeman

    Reply
  34. Becki Hampton Felten says

    April 20, 2013 at 2:51 pm

    To the Tanner family,

    My condolences. I had the pleasure of being in school with Bill and enjoying his many musical talents, in the high school choir and the ensembles. What a talent he was! God\’s blessings be with all of you at this time.

    Becki Hampton Felten
    PHS 1962

    Reply

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