Charles William Tanin

Charles William Tanin was born on October 8, 1921 to parents William and Nellie (Anderson) Tanin on the family farm south of Elizabeth, Colorado. He went to his heavenly home on March 22, 2018 at the age of 96 years, 5 months and 14 days.

Charlie attended Locust Grove school, which was one and a half miles west of his home, through the 8th grade. To get to school, he rode horseback or used a horse and buggy when his sister and brother were also attending. He went to high school in Elizabeth and graduated in 1939.

Charlie joined the US Marine Corps in 1942 and, if asked how long he was in, said 3 years, 7 months and 21 days! He was a metal smith, working on airplanes that needed modification almost as soon as they came off the assembly line. After his honorable discharge, he worked for a short time for Fruehoff Trailer Company in California. He then returned to Elizabeth in 1946, and went to work for Yale Chapin in the trucking business. He hauled cattle, coal, or whatever needed moving from one place to another.

On October 12, 1947 he married Oletha Olson, and they began their 70 plus years of marriage in a small house they purchased from C.H. Schriner. This union was blessed with 3 wonderful children, son David, daughters Vicki and Carol.

Charlie was a hard-working farmer-rancher, dairyman whose work ethic was hard to match. He and his brother, Ted, learned well from their father. He also managed to keep a sense of humor, and always had a joke or funny story to tell.

In 1951 Charlie moved his milk cows to his uncle Emil Anderson’s place in Cherry Valley and they milked both herds, while also remodeling a chicken house, which became Charlie’s and Oletha’s home for the next 3 years. When that house was needed for other family members, they moved to a house owned by another uncle, Carl Anderson. During those 2 years Charlie helped a neighbor build houses in Palmer Lake, as well as milking cows.

In 1956 the Godley family asked Charlie and Oletha if they’d like to rent the property on Russellville Road, which is still their home – buying part of it in 1959 and the rest in 1963-64.

The Tanins belonged to the Mt. Empire Dairyman’s Association for many years, running a Grade A dairy for over 33 years. When they sold the dairy cows in 1981, they were soon replaced by beef cattle and the farming operations continued. Charlie did custom haying for many neighbors for years.

Charlie was also civic minded, and served on various committees over the years. He was on the Douglas County Soil Conservation board, the Douglas/Elbert County ASCS committee (now known as FSA), the Douglas County Water Advisory Board, and the school board for Cherry Valley before consolidation. He served as both Vice President and President of Douglas County Farm Bureau, and served as a deacon and elder of the Elizabeth Presbyterian Church. For several years Charlie was the fellow at the church door handing out bulletins and hugs on Sunday mornings.

Charlie leaves to mourn his passing, his wife of 70 years, Oletha, his children David Tanin and wife Sarah Hoover, Vicki Tanin, Carol Hanson and husband Phil Hanson, granddaughter Sarah Hanson; sister Maybelle Reinecke; sister-in-law Phyllis Tanin; sister-in-law Mary Paschall/Jim Paschall; brother-in-law Elton Olson/Beverly Cronstadt; brother-in-law John Anderson; fifteen nieces and nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews and several cousins.

Services will be held at Harvest Bible Church, 826 S Elbert Street, in Elizabeth at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 31.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Elizabeth Presbyterian Church, PO Box 117, Elizabeth, CO 80107.