Honoring Jon: Help Us Honor His Life and Legacy

Honoring the Life of Jon Steven Kawika Tanner

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved father, husband, son, brother, and friend, Jon. He was a man who lived with an open heart, unshakable love, and unwavering devotion to his family.

Jon was married to our mom Gloria, his soulmate, for 45 incredible years. Their love story began as teenagers, and they quickly grew their family, starting with their first daughter, Jennifer. They later welcomed Nicki, Jono, and Matthew, completing the picture-perfect family they built together. Through every challenge and triumph, my dad’s love for us was steadfast and boundless.

Summers at Mammoth Mountain were a treasured family tradition, where Dad taught us the art of fishing—patiently showing us how to de-scale and fillet a catch. He shared his love of classic rock, filling our home with the sounds of his favorite songs, and enjoyed timeless TV shows like The Andy Griffith Show, Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, and, most recently, Columbo. His Sundays were dedicated to football, as a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan—until he discovered Russell Wilson. From that moment, his love for the Russell became unstoppable that even he might admit that he was officially a Steeler fan.

Dad’s legacy was his ability to love deeply and openly. He was never afraid to show his emotions, and his laughter, kindness, and devotion were constants in our lives. He was the rock of our family for many years, the man who could make us laugh in any situation, and the heart of every gathering.

Over the past year, Dad’s health began to decline, and he faced numerous challenges, including multiple hospital stays. In November, a terrible fall at the grocery store caused serious injuries, including a head injury and fractures in his feet and hip. Despite his strength and resilience, his health continued to deteriorate. In the final weeks of his life, he was admitted to the ICU and eventually moved to a regular floor to continue his recovery. On January 5th, complications from his condition became too severe, and he passed away unexpectedly.

This is the first loss our immediate family has experienced, and we are heartbroken. As we grieve, we are reaching out for your support to help cover the costs of his cremation, medical bills, and other unexpected financial burdens. This will allow our family the space to process his loss and honor his memory without the weight of financial stress.

Jon leaves behind an enormous family who loved him deeply, including his mother Linda, his sisters Leilani and Melissa, his brothers Jeff, Tony and Michael, his children Jennifer, Nicki, Jonathan, and Matthew, and his two grandchildren, Hailey and Ashton. He also leaves behind two fur-grandbabies, Bootsy and Banksy. To say he will be missed is an understatement. His memory will live on in our humor, music, and family traditions.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and support during this incredibly difficult time. Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a significant difference for our family.

In his honor, we will carry forward his love, his laughter, and his legacy. Thank you for helping us remember the amazing man we were blessed to call ours.

With gratitude,

Jennifer, on behalf of the Tanner family

On behalf of his wishes, we will be meeting privately as a family to honor him on Friday at 9 AM in Las Vegas during a private viewing. In the coming months, we would like to invite you to celebrate his life with us. We will be in touch about any celebration of life gathering.