Robert Cosgrove Tanner, 89, of Newtown, died peacefully in his sleep January 12, at his home. He was born on May 28, 1928, son of late Eva (Beach) and John Tanner.

An avid outdoorsman, painter, and craftsman, Mr Tanner was instrumental in helping his children and grandchildren with projects, business, and home improvements. He thrived through his storytelling diction, teaching many valuable lessons about life. There was nothing he would not do for his family.

Mr Tanner attended Bassick High School where he joined the Naval Reserve, which led him to enlist in the Navy. He was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas. After his service in the Navy, he relocated to Stratford, then to Newtown. He was an entrepreneur who started his own floor covering business, first in Stratford than relocated to Danbury, called Danbury Tile Sales.

His loving family includes his wife of 66 years, Janet (Demovick) Tanner; his sister, Eleanor Csire of Georgia; his brother-in-law, James Demovick of Southington; his children and their spouses, Robert and Melanie Tanner of Newtown, David and Ruth Tanner of New Milford, and Susan and Allen Amorando of Thomaston; his grandchildren and their spouses, Heather and J Arsenault of Canterbury, N.H., Ryan Tanner and his fiancée Kristi Nowak, Christine and Jason Seibold of New Milford, Katie and Brian Blake of Southbury, Allen and Kari Amorando of New Milford, Jacob Amorando of New Milford, and Jessica Tanner and her fiancée David Campagna of Canterbury; and his six great-grandchildren who survive him.

His siblings, John Tanner, Richard Tanner, and Anna Kent; along with his son Ted Tanner, predeceased him.

Calling hours will take place on Thursday, January 18, at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, from 5 to 7 pm.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday, January 19, at the funeral home, at 10 am. Interment with full military honors will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St Jude Children Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105 or at stjude.org.

To leave an online condolence, visit honanfh.com.