Hans Tanner

We celebrate the life of Hans Tanner who passed away peacefully on October 2, 2025 surrounded by family and friends and the many wonderful caregivers at Ruth Hospice. Hans is survived by his daughter, Monica Tanner, son Richard Tanner (Gail), granddaughter Emily Tanner, grandson Matthew Tanner (Melissa), his three great granddaughters (Penelope, Charlotte, and Josephine), and sister Ursula.  He was preceded in death by his wife Helen and grandson David.

Hans Tanner was born in Switzerland in 1931 and emigrated to Canada at age 22 with less than $25 in his pocket.  He arrived with ambition and strong skills from an excellent apprenticeship program hoping to build a career as a pattern maker. He was also looking for the right girl to settle down with and raise a family.  When he met Helen at a Swiss Club dance, he knew right away this beautiful girl with the great legs was the one.  They stuck together through thick and thin for 64 years and taught us the values of persistence and commitment by their example.

Hans loved the outdoors and was an avid gardener who used his Swiss precision to create the most beautiful and bountiful vegetable and flower gardens in the neighborhood.  His love of home grown, nutritious food, along with a passion for cooking and grilling, led to a long and healthy life. He loved his flowers almost as much as sharing an almost unlimited supply of sometimes spicy jokes.  He was generous with his time, soup, and special gifts of chocolate and home-grown tomatoes.

Hans loved adventure and instilled in his family a respect for nature through camping trips to remote parts of Canada and many hiking adventures with Helen.  He had a lifelong love of water starting with swimming the strong currents of the Rhine River and building his first boat from scratch at age 20.  He called it his “chick magnet” which started a boating legacy that spanned 50 years and 5 boats and culminated in his pride and joy, a 32-foot Sea Ray, aptly named Swiss Miss.

Hans was a lifelong Methodist and long-time member of Our Lord’s United Methodist Church where he was known for his many contributions of expertly crafted, custom designed furniture for the church, still in use today.  He also loved to share his gardening skills by helping to cultivate and maintain a beautiful church garden.  In retirement, he continued his legacy of fine wood working through a busy antique restoration business and was known as the man who could “make wood sing.”  He met many interesting people over his retirement years where making money was less important than helping people with quality work that would stand the test of time.

Hans taught us the value of work by taking pride in a job done well and done efficiently.  He often encouraged his family by saying “don’t walk empty.”  He and Helen took pride in their beautiful home, and our family is amazed at how much they were able to save and do through their thrifty lifestyle together.  There are so many stories we would love to share. If you are able, please join us for a celebration of life on October 26 at Our Lord’s Methodist Church.  Friends and family are invited to share a memory and a special toast to honor Hans and his legacy.

Instead of flowers or donations, Hans would love you to visit a favorite place of his where we had a special time together:  Boerner Botanical Gardens  https://www.margiessmile.org/