NEWTOWN – Robert Cosgrove Tanner, 89, departed peacefully in his sleep at his home on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018.
An avid outdoorsman, painter and craftsman, Robert was instrumental in helping his children and grandchildren with projects, business and home improvements. He thrived through his storytelling diction, teaching many valuable lessons about life. There was nothing he would not do for his family.
Robert was born on May 28, 1928, son of the late John and Eva (Beach) Tanner. He attended Bassick High School, where he joined the Naval Reserve, which led him to enlist in the Navy. He was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas.
After his service in the Navy, he relocated to Stratford, then to Newtown. He was an entrepreneur who started his own floor covering business, first in Stratford then relocated to Danbury, called Danbury Tile Sales.
Survivors of his loving family include his wife of 66 years, Janet (Demovick) Tanner; his sister, Eleanor Csire of Georgia and his brother-in-law, James Demovick, of Southington. He leaves his children, Robert Tanner and his wife, Melanie, of Newtown, David Tanner and his wife, Ruth, of New Milford, and Susan Amorando and her husband, Allen, of Thomaston; also, his grandchildren, Heather Arsenault and her husband, J, of Canterbury, N.H., Ryan Tanner and his fiancée, Kristi Nowak, Christine Seibold and her husband, Jason, of New Milford, Katie Blake and her husband, Brian, of Southbury, Allen Amorando and his wife, Kari, of New Milford, Jacob Amorando of New Milford, and Jessica Tanner and her fiancé, David Campagna, of Canterbury; also, his six great-grandchildren, Ben Seibold, Noah Seibold, Brayden Blake, Carson Blake, Alyssa Amorando and Adam Amorando.
Robert was predeceased by his brothers, John Tanner and Richard Tanner; and his sister, Anna Kent; along with his son, Ted Tanner.
Calling hours will take place Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Honan Funeral Home. Interment, with full military honors, will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Trumbull.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to be made in Robert’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (stjude.org).
To leave an online condolence, visit honanfh.com.
