William David "Skip" Tanner

William David “Skip” Tanner, 70, of Fort Wayne, passed away Monday, April 7, 2014. He was born September 5, 1943 in Fort Wayne to the late William Paul and Dorothy Jane Tanner. He was a graduate from North Side High School prior to joining the Coast Guard. After his discharge he worked as a reporter and journalist for numerous newspapers, magazines, and a writer for several alternative weeklies covering culture, fine arts, and politics. He, in the 70's, worked in the cable TV industry. He later worked as a sports reporter for the Journal Gazette covering high school, club, and college soccer. He served as vice president of the Professional Soccer Reporters Association. In the mid 80's he helped create and manage the Soccer House. In 1997 he was inducted into the Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame after serving as regional commissioner and later for two terms, vice president of the Indiana Youth Soccer Association. In addition to being a NSCAA licensed coach he received the President's Award by the Indiana State High School Coaches Association for his coverage of the sport. For nearly 10 years, he served as the visual arts critic for the local weekly, whatzup. He served on the board of Workers' Project, an adjunct to the Northeast Indiana Central Labor Council, and the Heartland Chorale. He retired in 2012 as a printer at the University of Saint Francis after a decade of service. Surviving are his wife of 17 years, Louise (Still) Jackson of Fort Wayne; son, Mischa Tanner of Fort Wayne; step children, Claire (Jason) Hemphill, Hugh Jackson, both of Fort Wayne, and Carl Jackson of New York, NY; grandson, Aaron Hemphill; and siblings, Jim Tanner of Fort Wayne, Jane Tanner of Tennessee, and Charlie Tanner of Texas. Also preceding him in death was a brother, Paul Tanner. A Celebration Memorial Gathering will be held at Covington Creek Cove Club House, 6700 Covington Creek Trail, Fort Wayne, IN 46804 on Friday, April 11, 2014 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM with a sharing time and tribute toast at 6:30 PM. Burial will be at St. John Lutheran Cemetery. Preferred memorials may be made to the Pat Teagarden Coaches’s Education Fund c/o the Fort Wayne Sports Club or the Literacy Alliance.