Tanner, Mark David 1957-2008

TANNER, MITCHELL, LUKEN, FYMBO, BARBAGALLO, SHERR, WESSLING, KELEHER, WALD, JACOBSON

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/17/2008 at 07:34:08

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, March 14, 2008

Mark David Tanner, 50, of Sioux City died unexpectedly Thursday, March 6, 2008, at his residence after suffering a fatal heart attack in his sleep.

Mark was born Dec. 23, 1957, the son of Phyllis (Luken) Mitchell and Donald Tanner. He attended high school in South Sioux City, Neb., and went on to join the Navy where he served until age 21. After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to the Sioux City area. Soon after, he learned the craft of bricklaying, where he excelled, and as a master craftsman, he continued to work until the end of his life. He was the owner and operator of KIII Construction for many years, but was employed at Brown Construction at the time of his death.

Mark took immense pride in whatever he did, and the projects he completed were a great source of satisfaction to him. He was an avid outdoorsman, and many of his happiest times were spent engaging in various kinds of fishing or hunting excursions.

He lived a very adventurous life, always trying, always learning, and always mastering new skills; it is difficult to try and categorize Mark at just one thing. He lived his life exactly as he chose to live it, never sacrificing his integrity or honor in the process. A complex, extremely intelligent, and incredibly humorous man, he had the gift of effortlessly keeping everyone around him laughing. Mark's own laughter came easily, as did his beautiful smile. To us, Mark was the best and the brightest, and it is difficult to imagine a world without him in it. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his mother, Phyllis Mitchell of Le Mars; His sisters: Teysa Fymbo of Storm Lake and Tami and Sam Barbagallo of Melbourne, Australia; a brother Sean Tanner of Rapid City, S.D.; his stepmother Betty Sherr of McCook Lake, S.D.; girlfriend Chris Allen-Mitchell of Las Cruces, N.M.; a niece Alexandria Wessling; and two nephews: Dustin Keleher and Nels Fymbo.

Mark was preceded in death by his father Don Tanner; paternal grandparents: Art Tanner and Mabel Wald; maternal grandparents: Amos and Mary Luken; and stepfathers: Dale Jacobson and Tom Mitchell.

Memorial services will be at United Methodist Church of Le Mars at 11 a.m. Friday, March 14. Pastor Jason Larson will officiate. There will be no visitation. The body was cremated and burial will be at a later date in Resthaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars.

The Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars is assisting Mark's family with arrangements.

A memorial fund has been established.