William E. Tanner

William Eugene Tanner, Sr., 80, of Rock Island, Illinois, passed away on Saturday, August 23, 2014, at UnityPoint Health - Trinity Rock Island.

A celebration of Life will take place at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Graveside services and interment for Bill and his first wife, Dayna, will take place at Rock Island National Cemetery, at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. Those wishing to attend should meet at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline, at 9:30 a.m.. Memorials may be made to Gilda's Club, Davenport, or Rock Island County Animal Care and Control.

Bill was born January 27, 1934, in Newark, Ohio, to Ivan and Esther (Schlingerman) Tanner. He graduated from St. Francis DeSales High School in Newark in 1952. He married Dayna Walz in August 30, 1958, in Newark. She preceded him in death on November 11, 1989. He married Helga (Kloes) Lofdahl on February 26, 1993, in Rock Island.

Bill proudly served our country for 25 years as a member of the United States Navy. Beginning in March, 1952, his service took him around the world from Morocco to Iceland, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Guam and many duty stations in between. His last station was at the Naval Reserve Center in Davenport, where he retired from the Navy in 1977. Bill then worked at Caterpillar, Job Services of Iowa, and for Per Mar at Ralston Purina. He completed his Associates Degree at Scott Community College.

Bill enjoyed great adventures around the world with his five children. From crossing glaciers, to climbing mountains, to digging up treasures brought in by the ocean, Bill was always ready to explore the world. Later in life, he and Helga enjoyed traveling to China, Europe, and the Caribbean. They spent 14 years as snowbirds in New Port Richey, Florida. Bill also enjoyed hunting, reading, and playing a great game if Euchre.

Bill is survived by his wife, Helga; his children and their spouses, Debra and Mark Kretschmer, Lorri Bryson, William Jr. and Julie Tanner, and Michael and Lisa Tanner, all of Davenport, and Douglas and Barbara Tanner of Yuma, Arizona; three step-children and their spouses, Peter and Linda Vinson and Michael Vinson of Davenport, and Patricia and James Kennedy of Memphis, Tennessee; ten grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Marianne Lee of Newark, Ohio, Sr. Gertrude Tanner of Garden City, Kansas, and Kathleen and David Brooker of Pataskala, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Dade Fledderjohann of Oviedo, Florida, and a brother-in-law and his wife, Perry and Margaret Walz of West Covina, California; and many nieces and nephews.

Bill's family invites friends to share stories and condolences and light a free candle in his memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.