Tanner Joe Mortenson

Tanner was born on October 17, 1988 to David and Sheila (Kleis) Mortenson.

He was born and raised in International Falls and graduated with the class of 2007. He got his start in construction in International Falls, and in 2013 moved to Maui and continued his career in construction. He worked for Ishi Hughes at Timber Maui Construction operating and doing maintenance of equipment.

Tanner was a true northern Minnesotan man. His roots ran deep and he always felt at home there, but had a very strong connection to life in Maui.

His favorite hobbies in Minnesota were hunting, fishing, snowboarding, ATV riding and all the common northland activities he could involve himself in. In Maui his favorite enjoyments were freediving, spearfishing, swimming, hunting feral hogs, and chainsaw carving, mostly of tikis.

The island is peppered with over twenty of his carvings which shows he left his signature mark there. A mark that will outlive us. These were his pastimes and enjoyments.

His true asset was his ability to connect with people. His humorous character and selfless nature left anyone who knew him no reason not to like him and most to love him. People were his prized possessions with literally thousands and thousands of Snapchat followers to view his comical downright hilarious antics. Tanner was proof that if you give love, you get loved.

Tanner is survived by one brother, Todd (Bekah Hieb) Mortenson; grandparents, Adolph and Betty Mortenson, and Michael and Diane Kleis; nineteen aunts and uncles; forty-two cousins, and thirty-nine nieces and nephews. A family almost too large to count; all of which he loved so much; family meant a lot to him. He had countless friends and touched lives everywhere he went.

Losing this man to a vehicle accident in Maui on Ulumalu Road on December 31, 2020 was truly a tragic event. Tanner would not want us to darken our hearts with negativity from events out of our control, but rather remember him for all of the great times that we had or as Tanner would say “Great Vibes!”

So it will be with family and friends honorable mention Levi, Emma, Roy, and Ishi.

A private memorial service will be held on January 15, 2021 at 3:00 pm at Green-Larsen Mortuary. A livestream of the service will be made available via the Green-Larsen Mortuary Facebook page.