Leonard Jon Tanner of Warsaw, went to be with the Lord at 3:26 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Kosciusko Community Hospital of Warsaw at the age of 98.

He attended school in Burlington, Okla. and later became the co-owner of Burlington Hardware Store in the 1940’s. After selling his share of the store, he purchased the Deluxe Motel in Alva, Okla. in the 1950’s. He and his family operated the motel for 10 years, while working part-time at the post office in Cherokee, Okla. He served as Clerk, Assistant Postmaster, and then Postmaster for 12 years. Leonard was also Postmaster in Carmen, Okla. and retired on Jan. 4, 1984.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Cherokee where he was deacon and did volunteer gardening and maintenance. He was a member of the Cherokee Seniors Domino Club, an avid fisherman, gardener, and shared his award-winning flower arrangements with businesses, seniors, and nursing home residents.

Leonard moved to Winona Lake, in 2010 to live with his son, Gary and wife Shelley. He frequently visited the Winona Lake Senior Center for lunch. He taught everyone there how to play dominoes. In July he became a resident of Grace Village Health Care in Winona Lake.

He was born on July 21, 1917, in Burlington, Okla. to Henry Tanner and Ida May (Schafer) Tanner. On May 26, 1940, he was married to Gladys (Whybrew) Tanner, who preceded him in death on Feb. 23, 1962. Leonard was remarried on June 2, 1963, to Luella (Cox Headrick) Tanner, she passed away on July 19, 2002.

He will be lovingly remembered by his two sons: Gary (Shelley) Tanner, Warsaw; Rudy Tanner, Oakland; stepson: Dennis (Eva) Headrick, Newberg, Ore.; and stepdaughter; Judie (Bob) Collins, Bartlesville, Okla. He also leaves behind two grandsons: Gary “Chip” (Erin) Tanner, Plainfield; James Leonard (Amy) Tanner, Los Gatos, Calif.; three granddaughters: Bethanie (Mark) Goodson, Dublin, Ohio; Katherine (Mark) Davis, Brentwood, Tennessee; Cherish (Antonio) Paris, St. Petersberg, Fla.; five step-grandchildren: John (Rebecca) Headrick, Newburg, ore.; Adair (Mark) Goss, Lafayette, Ore.; Garrett (Brenda0 Headrick, Newberg, Ore.; Joel Collins, Tulsa, Okla.; Heather (Michael) Youngs, Fenton, Mich.; and 23 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; wives: Gladys; and Luella; three brothers; and one sister.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Cherokee, Okla. He will be buried at Cherokee Municipal Cemetery in Cherokee, Okla. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, Warsaw.