TANNER, James Edward
January 14, 1950 — September 18, 2022
Jim was born in Calgary, AB to John Willis and Frances Mary (née Kennon) Tanner, as the oldest child of four. The family lived for several years in California, USA, and returned to Calgary in 1963.
After completing a Civil Engineering degree and working in this field for several years, Jim decided to follow his true passion and return to the University of Calgary to obtain a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Fine Arts.
In 1983, Jim moved to Kelowna, BC, to take a job as a professor of painting and drawing at Okanagan College. He continued to teach these subjects at the University of British Columbia Okanagan until his retirement in 2014.
In Kelowna, Jim and his wife, Dianne, had two children, Aria and Mark, in whom they fostered a love of travel, knowledge, music, and nature.
Jim was an accomplished mountaineer, and throughout his life embarked on countless climbing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, cycling, and skiing adventures in and around the Rocky Mountains, the Okanagan Valley, coastal BC, and various countries in Asia, Europe, and South America. Jim’s love of nature led to meeting his wife and to many lifelong friendships.
Jim also enjoyed painting, listening to CBC Radio, singing and playing his guitar, studying French, running, and reading on a wide range of subjects.
Jim lived a long and joyful life, passing away shortly after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His loving family was at his side until the end.
While the beauty of the universe is undimmed by Jim’s passing, it has lost a wonderful man who was adept at appreciating it, and at sharing that appreciation with everyone he encountered.
In addition to his wife and children, Jim is survived by his sisters, Megan (Gordon) Mackey, Ruth Lachance, and Sherry Sartorelli, as well as his nieces and nephews and their children.
Condolences may be expressed to the family via inmemoryofjet@gmail.com, and a gathering to celebrate his life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Ecojustice Canada, act.earthjustice.org.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of TANNER James Edward January 14 1950 — September 18 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Kelowna, Province: Colombie britanique