Bertrand Dee Tanner

Bert Tanner
Early Tuesday morning, September 16, 2008, our beloved husband, father, big brother, son, uncle, friend and colleague, Bertrand Dee Tanner passed away peacefully, following a four month battle with esophageal cancer. It is difficult to summarize the life of this man or to describe the impact he made on other’s lives. Bert’s integrity, loyalty and leadership will be greatly missed.
Bert was born in Delta, Utah , son of Champ Bean Tanner and Catherine May Cox, on April 24, 1943. He grew up in Middleton , Wisconsin , and was active in sports and music programs, received his Eagle Scout Award, and graduated from Middleton High School in 1961. There he met and dated, Ellyn Joyce “Kookie” Johnson, who would become his wife and soulmate throughout his life adventures.
Bert and Kookie were married in Spring Green, Wisconsin on September 21, 1974. They honeymooned with a 400 mile trek in Nepal to the basecamp of Annapurna and Everest in the Himalayas . They have three children: Bertrand Clarke William (29), married to Amanda Matousek, and currently a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Vermont ; Joylyn Eve (26), working as a public relations specialist at TechWeb in San Francisco ; and Ayrowyn Kay (20), a student at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City . As parents, Bert and Kookie have provided a multitude of opportunities for their family. Time with family has always been and will continue to be cherished.
Bert’s experiences were wide and varied. From the ski slopes to the world of science, he brought a remarkable passion to every activity. Bert received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, with a minor in Physics at the University of Wisconsin (UW) and a Master of Science in Biometeorology at Utah State University (USU). He was a member of the football, hockey and rugby teams at UW, served in the US Army Reserve and worked for the UW Department of Geophysics in college. From his A-frame in Aspen , Colorado as a ski bum, to the smokejumper years in Missoula , Montana , living in the Chesapeake Bay area working for the US Department of Navigational Oceanographics, and being a research meteorologist at the US Forest Service Central Sierra Snow Lab in Berkeley , California – Bert definitely lived life in the fast lane.
Making their home at the base of the beloved Wellsville Mountains , Bert joined Campbell Scientific, Inc. in 1978 as the 14th employee to begin his 30-year career as Vice President of Marketing and Customer Service.
Bert played a significant role in the growth, development and diversity of Campbell Scientific, Inc. contributing to the company’s international recognition for innovative instrumentation. He had a sincere interest in the careers of young scientists and a keen eye for talent at its early stages. Scores of the best environmental scientists world wide acknowledge his influence in their careers.
Honors include an Honorary Ph.D. in Meteorology from the American Meteorological Society (AMS), American Society of Agronomy (ASA) Fellow and a Certified Consulting Meteorologist with AMS.
Survivors include his wife, Ellyn Joyce (Kookie); his children, Bertie, Joylyn and Ayrowyn; his mother, Catherine Tanner, his sisters, Taffy Davidson and Terry Kalemba, and his brother, Myron Tanner. He was preceded in death by his father, Champ Bean Tanner and his youngest brother, Clarke Tanner.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Bertrand D. Tanner/Campbell Scientific Scholarship Fund at Utah State University , which has been established to honor his many contributions to environmental science. He brought great honor and recognition to his alma mater and was a lifelong supporter of the university, the faculty and the students. Donations should be directed to:
Bertrand D. Tanner/Campbell Scientific Scholarship Fund
Utah State University
1420 Old Main Hill
Logan , UT 84322-1420
Funeral services will be conducted at 12:00 pm on Saturday, September 20 at the Mendon Stake Center (460 S. 100 E.). Viewings will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm on Friday, September 19 at the Allen Mortuary of North Logan (420 E. 1800 N.) and from 10:00-11:30 am on Saturday, also at the Mendon Stake Center .
Condolences from those unable to attend may be sent via email for the family to view: bertrand.tanner@gmail.com .
Also condolences and memories may be shared at www.allenmortuaries.net