John Lee Tanzer, the only child of John Lewis and Audrey (Brown) Tanzer, died Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at his home in Bennington, Kansas. John was born January 14, 1933 in Miltonvale, Kansas. He was a 1951 graduate of Miltonvale Rural High School. After graduation, he joined the Army and proudly served his country during the Korean War. On August 9, 1956 he was united in marriage with Rose Marie Deines and this union was blessed with the addition of two children.
A longtime resident of Bennington, he worked 37 years for Twin Valley Telephone of Miltonvale, before his retirement in 1998. During his time in Bennington, John served on both the city council and as mayor, and was also a past president of the Bennington Saddle Club.
John was preceded in death by his daughter, Terry Mutschler, in 1998 and his wife Rose in 2001.
Survivors include his son Gregg Tanzer and his wife Danita (Deni) and their daughter Paige of Bennington; his granddaughter Megan Mutschler – Chase and her husband Andy and their children Kye and Kyndra all of Miltonvale; and his special friend Ruth Coleman of Bennington.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., Monday at the Bennington Bible Church. Burial with full military honors will be in the Bennington Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Sunday at Wilson Family Funeral Home, Minneapolis where the family will receive friends from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Bennington Ambulance and may be left in care of the funeral home.