Mr. Tony LaVerne Tanner, age 56, of Hesperia, passed away Saturday, April 4, 2015. He was born June 8, 1958, in Hart to Albert and LulaBelle (Ward) Tanner. He graduated from Walkerville High School with the Class of 1976. Tony loved sports, at Walkerville High School he excelled in track and field, holding the pole vault school record until just recently. He also played basketball and baseball. Tony married Karlene Fletcher in Hesperia in 1997. Tony enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and his Miller High Life beer. He loved the out of doors golfing and hunting. Tony was great problem solver in any situation. He was very proud of his vocation as lineman with Consumers Energy in the Muskegon office and then later from the Fremont office. Tony's real passion was the Martial Arts. He was an instructor and the holder of two Third Degree Black Belts. Family meant everything to Tony and all his friends he considered to be family.

Tony is survived by his wife, Karlene (Fletcher) Tanner, one daughter, Jaclyn (Ryan) Kane of Twin Lake; one son, Anthony (Ashley) Tanner of Hesperia; two step-daughters, Trudy (Nolan) Emlaw of Northville, Tanya (Scott) Fairchild of Rothbury; one step-son, Jason Chase of Walkerville; ten grandchildren, Triniti, McKennah, Gabrielle, Logan, Owen, Wyatt, Parker, Molly, Calvin, Dayle; one sister, Shari (Jeff) Rohn of Twin Lake; four brothers, Wayne (Ann) Tanner of Walkerville, Chuck (Phyllis) Tanner of Garrett, IN, Jerry (Mary) Tanner of Walkerville, John (Karen) Tanner of Walkerville; father-in-law, Robert Fletcher of Walkerville; mother-in-law, Thelma Fletcher of Walkerville; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and former spouse, Lori Tanner.

The Funeral Service for Mr. Tanner will be Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at 12:00 pm at Walkerville Wesleyan Church in Walkerville with Pastor Bob Abbott officiating. Interment will be made in Carpenter Cemetery, Walkerville. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 7, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at King Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Hart. The family requests that any memorials be directed to Crystal Valley Care Fund, P.O. Box 451, Hart, MI 49420 or the Bitely Boys