Joan, 79, beloved wife of James Tanner and mother of four, passed away in Flint on Thursday, after suffering a stroke.
Funeral services were held on Tue, Apr 12, 2011 at Nelson-House Funeral Home, with Pastor Steve Maske officiating.
The youngest of eleven children, and daughter of David Dreuth and Katharine Stuckert Dreuth, German immigrants from Russia. Joan attended Owosso High School, where she participated in Glee Club, operetta group and school variety show, and studied business courses. After graduating from OHS in 1949, she worked on the assembly line at Universal Electric.
In 1950, she married James Tanner, also of Owosso. After he graduated from Tri-State College in Indiana, they moved to Flint. Joan was active in the PTA at Gundry Elementary, was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Flint, and was a dedicated volunteer and supporter of her children’s educational and extracurricular activities, including Scouts, art, athletics, music, and drama. She was devoted to animals, particularly dogs, and enjoyed decorating the home and making crafts such as handmade greeting cards. Joan was intensely interested in treatments and resources for people with acoustic neuroma (growths on the auditory nerve), having had one successfully removed several years ago.
Joan is survived by her husband James; four children, Susan Velasquez and husband Paul Velasquez, Jim Tanner, Kathy Tanner, and Steve Tanner; six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. She was predeceased by four sisters, and six brothers.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest a donation to Acoustic Neuroma Association.