Where does one begin to tell the story of a man who has lived 99 years? William Harry Tanner started his long life in Kellerton Iowa, born at home to Fred and Jessie (Sissle) Tanner. Times were certainly different than they are now, a man was a gentleman, he took care of his family which meant his wife, children, siblings anyone else that need help. Dad married our mom Glendoris Shelton on December 24, 1940 they celebrated 72 years of marriage together before mom passed, times were hard in the early years but they were happy. They had four children; Judith, Wanda, Raelynn and Kevin. Dad and Mom were members of the Christian Church and shared their love and faith in God which they taught their children.
After retiring from Armstrong Tire in Des Moines he moved his family to Apache Junction Arizona, he enjoyed tinkering around his garage and could make or fix anything.
Dad always had a story to tell, I especially remember one about a young boy 14 years old that he saw along the road on his way home from work, he was sitting on a suit case crying, his parents had died and had no place to live. Art Willard lived with them until he graduated high school and then joined the army. There was always room for anyone that needed a place to stay or needed a hot meal.
Dad saw so many firsts in his life; he would tell about school letting out when an airplane flew over, the first car his dad bought, the first time his mother came home with all her hair cut off (apparently, that wasn't the thing to do), indoor plumbing, electric lights, radio, and TV. Listening to him was like reading a history book with details that you couldn't learn in school.
Being the oldest of 7 children, there was always work to be done to help out his parents on the farm. He spoke of hitching the horses to the plow and turn the field to plant, hauling water, cutting wood to cook and heat with. The way they stored their garden crops in a cave or dried pumpkins, onions and anything else in
the attic. His brother Rex and him would go hunting every day, he would say "we didn't have a Hy-Vee to go get our meat so we had to hunt to survive". Those we the good old day, he would say and laugh.
There were many passions dad had other than his family and gardening was one, he always grew more than we could can and use, but there was always someone that he could give the excess to. I don't know how many people would come and pick rhubarb from his massive patch, he really enjoyed sharing and helping
others. Fishing was the other passion, if you mention fishing and he was gone! Him and mom would take a lunch and sit all day fishing. He could tell what tree was by looking at the leaves or bark, when he heard a bird sing he knew what kind it was, he was our dad he knew everything!
As dad got older 90 or so, his fishing stopped and the garden got smaller, he never thought of himself as old maybe that is why lived such a long life. My dad was my best friend and I will miss him terribly, we shared so much. we would sit and talk for hours. We would share the first Robin we would see, or geese flying north and he would share his prediction of what the coming weather would be. We always made a trip to Ellis greenhouse in the Spring and would discuss what verity we would try this year in the garden. I will miss out road trips and he would tell me that weeds are just a wild flower that no one likes.
Harry was proceeded in death by his parents Fred and Jessie, his wife Glendoris, all of his siblings, a daughter Judith Diane Porter, Judith's husband Levi, one Grandson David Glover. He will be greatly missed by his son Kevin (Susan) Tanner, his daughters Wanda (Teddy) Reed and Raelynn (Scott) Luehring, many, many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Memorial can be made to Chariton Christian Church Disciples of Christ or Circle of Life Hospice.
1 THESSALONIANS Chapter 5 verse 14-18
DEAR BROTHERS, WARN THOSE WHO ARE LAZY; COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE FRIGHTENED; TAKE TENDER CARE OF THOSE WHO ARE WEAK; AND BE PATIENT WITH EVERYONE. SEE THAT NO ONE PAYS BACK EVIL FOR EVIL, BUT ALWAYS TRY TO DO GOOD TO EACH OTHER AND TO EVERYONE ELSE. ALWAYS BE JOYFUL. ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, ALWAYS BE THANKFUL, FOR THIS IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS.
