TANNER, P. Eng

"Bobby" "Bob" and "Bernie"

Bernie passed away in Calgary, AB at the age of 87. He was born in Blue Rocks, NS to Capt. Bernard "Bernie" Stewart, Lorraine and Doris May (nee Romkey), and was the oldest of three sons. Bernie was known to his family as "Bobby" and "Bob" the names he was given as a young boy and as a young man.

Bernie is survived by his former wife, Dee Jean (nee Dorothy Zwicker), and their two children: daughter Renee Lousie (George) of Calgary, son BC "Calvin" (Emilie), and granddaughter Eva of Vancouver. Bernie's mom, Doris, was honoured to name her first grandchild Renee, and Dee named their son BC after his dad, Bernard Calvin.

Bernie is survived by his brother Calvin (Rhonda) and their three children, Alex, Noah and Amelia and Ronda's son, Aaron, his nephew, Kevin (Robin), Aunt Shirley Romkey (nee Knickle) and cousin Geary and his children, Johnson and Stephanie and many first and second cousins and lifelong friends.

Bernie is predeceased by his grandparents, Capt. Calvin Lorraine and Caroline "Carry" Louise (nee Selig) of Stonehurst and Johnson "Dadda" Romkey and Gladys Louise (nee Knickle) of Blue Rocks, brother Keith (Barbara), Uncles Roseville "Rosie" Tanner (Hazel), Robert Tanner (Vivian) and Douglas Tanner (lost at sea), Aunt Joyce Conrad (Douglas) and Uncles Capt. Merrill Romkey (Shirley) and Murray Romkey (Deet). Dee's parents Tracy Lorraine Zwicker and Irene Mae (nee Legge) of Mahone Bay.

Early in life, Bernie was a member of the Central United Church in Lunenburg, where his mother, Doris, was the organist and taught Sunday school.

Bernie attended Lunenburg Academy before graduating from Dalhousie University and the Technical University of Nova Scotia (Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mining Engineering). During his university days, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Halifax.

Shortly after graduating from University, Bernie, his wife Dee and their young daughter Renee immigrated to New Orleans, LA for Bernie's opportunity to work as an engineer for Standard Oil, the world's largest public oil company. He also attended Tulane University. Dee obtained a position with T Smith & Sons, the largest stevedoring company in New Orleans, as the executive secretary to the chairman of the board and the chief executive officer. After four years in New Orleans, they left for Ontario, leaving behind fond memories of their friends Ann and Glen Robinson and the days they spent sailing on the Robinson's sailboat on Lake Pontchartrain, visits to the Audubon Zoo, row boating on the lake at the New Orleans City Park and going to the Mardi Gras parades.

While in Ontario, Bernie obtained his P.Eng. designation and moved to Calgary a year later, where he worked for Mannix and Johnson Testers and was a member of the 400 Club. His son BC was born a couple of years before Bernie founded his company, Tanner Engineering Ltd., in 1976. The family thanks all the oil and gas companies that contracted Tanner Engineering over the years, with special thanks to Czar Resources and Penn West Petroleum.

Bernie is also survived by Greg Patterson, his first employee and long-time friend and Alan Payzant, his long-term employee and long-time friend. He was predeceased by his long-term employee and friend Leon Brotherton.

In 2022, Bernie returned to Lunenburg with his daughter, Renee, to spend time with his family, lifelong friends and schoolmates.

Bernie's family thanks everyone for their kind words and his neighbours for their kind-hearted gestures in remembering him and his passion for wildlife.

Bernie will be laid to rest alongside his mom, dad and brother Keith at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Lunenburg, NS.