Steven Maurice Tanner

Bountiful, Utah – Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend, Steven Maurice Tanner, 71, of Bountiful, Utah passed away peacefully at his home with his wife by his side on December 4, 2016. He fought a courageous battle over several years with ALS (Lou Gehrig ’s disease) and cancer.

Steve was born June 27, 1945 in Payson, Utah, the son of Gene Seth Tanner and Marjorie Doreen Money Tanner.  He was the oldest of four children.  After he was born they lived in Laredo, Texas while his father was stationed there during the last part of World War II. He spent most of his childhood in Layton and South Ogden. He graduated from Bonneville High School, where he played football and ran track. He worked at Hill Air Force Base while he attended Weber State University. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. While at Weber State University, he met his wife, Suzanne Sheffield, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 9, 1966. They shared a life full of joy and happiness and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together. They have six children, Michelle, Valerie, Brian, Gregg, Matthew, and Angela. 

Steve was incredibly hard-working.  He was a software engineer and began his career working for Burroughs Corp. in Pasadena, CA, where his family lived for five years. During that time, Steve was the Explorer Leader in the East Pasadena Ward and took their Explorer Post to the National Explorer Olympics in Colorado Springs, CO.  In 1973, they moved to Bountiful, UT where he worked for UNISYS for 25 years.  During that time he was a member of the International Standards Organization for the COBOL programming language.  He finished his career working at EDS for another 10 years. The last six of those years were spent going to Navy and Marine Corp. bases around the country to set-up a secure intranet within the military.

Steve was a wise, faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served valiantly in many callings. He served in three different Bishoprics as a Counselor or Executive Secretary, as well as a Stake High Councilor, Young Men’s leader and Cub Master.  Steve also served as a temple worker at the Bountiful Temple for several years and as a Church Service Missionary for over three years at the Centerville LDS Employment Resource Center. 

Steve was a courageous, loving example and friend to all.  He loved his Savior and demonstrated his love through quiet service to others. Steve could always be found sharing his infectious smile and sense of humor.

Steve’s passion was playing basketball, hiking, hunting, fishing and gardening. He enjoyed sharing vegetables out of his garden with his neighbors. He loved being outdoors and enjoyed going on Scouting hikes, campouts, and deer hunting. Steve also enjoyed watching sports, particularly football and basketball.  His favorite teams were the BYU Cougars and the Utah Jazz. 

Steve is survived by his loving wife, companion, and caregiver, Suzanne; his mother, Doreen Sutherland; his step-mother, Georgia Tanner; his children, Michelle (Rich) Lakin, Stansbury Park, Utah; Valerie (Curtis) Taylor, Stansbury Park, Utah; Brian (Hope) Tanner, Layton Utah; Gregg Tanner, Bountiful, Utah; Angie (Nick) Swallow, Stansbury Park, Utah; his daughter-in-law Kristy Tanner, Bountiful, Utah; his siblings, Richard Tanner, Roy, Utah; Lynette (John) Hansen, Las Vegas, Nevada; Suzanne Tanner, Harrisville, Utah; his step-brother Kevin (Carrie) Trussel, Perry, Utah; and 24 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Matthew Tanner; his father, Gene Tanner; brother-in-law, Evan Sheffield, and his grandparents.

Viewings will be held on Sunday evening, December 11, 2016 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary at 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah and on Monday, December 12th prior to the funeral, at the church, from 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. The funeral will be at 12:00 Noon in the Bountiful 21st Ward Chapel at 115 E. Wicker Lane (1900 S. Orchard Dr.), Bountiful, Utah. Interment will be in the Bountiful City Cemetery.

We would like to thank Summit Hospice, the doctors and nurses at the University of Utah ALS Clinic and Huntsman Cancer Center and the many family, friends, and neighbors who came to help.