John Baker Tanner

Wilmington Island
John Frederick (Fred) Baker Tanner, age 80, died Monday, January 11, 2010 peacefully at his home surrounded by family, under the care of Hospice Savannah.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM, Friday, January 15, 2010 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church with Rev. Peter Hartmann officiating. Interment will follow at Bonaventure City Cemetery with Chris Tanner, Alex Persons, Matthew Maggioni, Paul Maggioni, Billy Sires, and Gary Lackey serving as casketbearers.
Fred was born in Savannah on May 24, 1929 to the Late Charles Walter and Anna Rosetta Bruggeman Tanner. He was a member of both Reformation and St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Churches and was retired from Norfolk Southern Railway after 39 years of service. Fred was an avid baseball enthusiast and played on a city league team and coached and played Church league softball for years. Fred loved his family and his grandchildren and great grandchildren were the joy of his retirement years. Fred was preceded in death by his wife Shirley Jean Sires Tanner, who died March 9, 2002, and a Great Grandson, Jacob Brower.
Survivors include his children and their spouses, Kathleen Tanner, Ellen T. Maggioni and husband Joseph, all of Savannah, John Frederick Tanner and wife Kendall of Buford, Ga., Charles Walter Tanner of Lawrenceville, Ga. Grandchildren, Alexander S. Persons, S. Anna Brower and husband Christopher, Paul Maggioni and wife Penny, Matthew and Suzanne Maggioni, Elise, Chris, Jamie Tanner, Christina Felhofer. 6 Great-Grandchildren and several Nieces and Nephews also survive.
The family will be receiving friends from 6-8 PM on Thursday, January 14, 2010 at Bonaventure Funeral Home. Please visit www.BonaventureFH.com
Memorials may also be made to St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 10 West 31st Street, Savannah, Ga. 31401 or Old Savannah City Mission, 2414 Bull Street, Savannah, Ga. 31401.
Bonaventure Funeral Home is in charge with arrangements.
912-335-8506