John Tonkin Tanner Jr

John Tonkin Tanner Jr passed away February 10,2026 from a lengthy health decline at home with the love of his life of 18 1/2 years, Kara Bash, by his side at the age of 51.

John was born in Torrance, CA on April 2, 1974, to his mother Myra Grossarth and his father John Tanner Sr. John moved to Wenatchee, WA with his mother and sister in 1978

where his mother married Larry Grossarth in 1980 and thus a famliy they became.

John started school in the Wenatchee school district and in 4th grade moved to Dryden, WA in 1984. By 1986, the family moved again to Leavenworth, WA which

they called home. According to his classmate: "John was a legend in their younger years, one of a kind with a laugh and a smile all his own and he had a huge soft side too. He was also a big piece of our puzzle while growing up in Peshastin and Leavenworth". John finished his schooling in 1992 his junior year and got his GED soon thereafter.

After his education, John moved to Tennessee to live with his stepbrother Jeff Grossarth and his family for a short time and then moved back to the Wenatchee Valley. He then moved to Texas to be with his biological father and his family and then moved back to the Wenatchee Valley where he called home until they day he passed away. He always kiddingly said: "there is something in the water here that makes people always come back".

John worked many different types of jobs throughout his life. Many of which were in the food industry, and many labor jobs from Industrial, Fruit Warehouse and driving truck for

United Pipe & Supply. John always said his favorite job was working for "Grandma Beth" at Hansel and Gretel in Leavenworth during his high school years, making many favorite memories at work and at play.

John met Kara Bash in 2007 (I will miss "Mister" forever). They fell in love and moved in together and were inseparable after that, along with their two cats Morgan and Bailey. They traveled and adventured together through the years, supporting and loving each other along the way. John was a proud Cat Dad and had Morgan and Bailey to entertain and love him for 18 years. Sadly, Bailey passed away just weeks before John, guess he just wanted to be John's "Welcoming Committee". One thing through the years, John always loved his music (especially heavy metal) until the day he died! It gave him comfort and John would say that it was his peace and his church.

John is survived by his life partner, Kara Bash; beloved cat, Morgan; son, Zachary Bass; mother, Myra Grossarth; sister, Jennifer Tanner; nephew, Tanner Phillips; stepsister, Sharon (husband Andy) Armengol; stepbrother, Jeff (wife Trish) Grossarth; stepbrother, Matthew Holland; half-brother, Alexander Tanner; aunt, Vesta Cowing; aunt, Beverly Stokes. Bonus Family Members: Parents, Ian and Ruth Leslie; sister, Shauna Enos; brother, Glen Leslie. And numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews and close friends.

John is preceded in death by his stepfather, Larry Grossarth; maternal and paternal grandparents; beloved cat Bailey "Little Mister".

A celebration of life will be determined at a later date