Michael Lowell Tanner
April 2, 1946-August 10, 2025
Michael was the third child of Lowell (Clintonville, WI) and Luvern (Schwan) Tanner (Milwaukee, WI). He had an idyllic childhood with siblings Tom, Jon and Linda Lee Tanner.
He lived by his goals, reflection, inspiration, and purpose. He was kind, intelligent, curious, empathetic and lively.
He started teaching high school in New Berlin, WI in 1964 where he sought to change one teenager at a time. He earned two additional education degrees from the University of Colorado in Greeley. Michael aimed to reform education one teacher at a time through his professorships at Western Oregon Teacher’s College, Northern Arizona University, Pacific University, and Warner Pacific College.
He delighted in being a father to Adam Tanner and Ruth Andrews where he instilled the gifts of empathy, humor, and the love of nature.
He married his soul partner, Elke De Little-Tanner in 2011. Together they enjoyed traveling internationally, intellectual discussions, reading, and walking on the beach or in the mountains.
Michael was an active participant of spiritual discovery at Unity of the Valley and his hobbies included lapidary, woodworking, pickleball, hiking, traveling and making timelines.
Michael split his time in Springfield, OR and Green Valley, AZ.
His life mission is complete, but he lives on through his wife, sister, children and countless others.
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