Obituaries

July 31, 1960 – October 5, 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Stephen Patrick Tanner. He passed away from a short, but aggressive battle with cancer at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital at the age of 63. Steve’s family and friends are especially appreciative of the excellent and compassionate care he received while there, as well as the very special help of local friends, Bill Aldred and Chantel Laquerre.

Steve was born July 31, 1960 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Steve came from a military family, and as he was growing up, the family lived in Germany for several years, as well as various stations all over Canada. The family settled in Edmonton, AB in 1974, where Steve graduated high school. Steve graduated from W.P. Wagner in the RAP Career & Technology program, which then led him to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Professional Meat Cutting and Merchandising Program. Steve’s meat-cutting career led him to places all over Alberta, where he was considered an expert butcher and ran several meat departments at various grocery chains over the years. He relocated to High Level, AB for several years and then finally settled in Grande Prairie in 2016 where he was most recently the Meat Manager for a local Safeway. He was both an employee and a boss during his years with Safeway and counted many co-workers among his friends over the years, especially in Grande Prairie, where his loss is now deeply felt there.

Steve was a natural athlete and excelled especially at baseball and as a hockey goalie in his youth. If he wasn’t out playing baseball or hockey, he could be found in the neighborhood riding bikes or playing with his many friends. As an adult, he shifted to the more tame sport of bowling and was known as an exceptional bowler in his day, playing in several leagues. Steve was also known to family and friends for his often quirky and dry sense of humor.

Steve is survived by his son, Kyle Tanner, daughter Amber Belong (Ted), son Stephen Gray, brother Robert Tanner (Stephanie) and sister Marjorie Adams (Kim). Steve had 5 grandchildren: James, Haiden, Sofia, Cordell and Brycen, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Steve is predeceased by his son Mitchell Tanner, as well as his parents Frank & Audrey Tanner.

A Celebration of Life for Steve will be held on Friday, October 20th at 11am at the Golden Age Centre, 10222 101 Avenue Grande Prairie.

Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780 830 7742 bcfh.ca