Robert George Tanac

Robert George Tanac was born on July 24, 1922 in Everett, Washington to John Tanac and Anna (Skucy) Tanac. Bob’s sister, Margaret, was born two years later. When Bob was three, his mother passed away and the family moved out to live with his grandparents in East Sunnyside, now Soper Hill Rd. They lived with his grandparents until 1933 when they moved back to Everett. Bob graduated from Everett High School and attended the University of Washington. It was at the UW, in the School of Pharmacy, where Bob would meet Pat (Hornall) Tanac. Bob’s schooling was interrupted by WWII. He served in the Army and was in the Quartermaster Corps. He said they asked for volunteers and if anyone could type, everyone else took a step back, so he guessed he volunteered. Bob went overseas and was stationed in Paris. During this time, he wrote Pat on a daily basis. At their 70th Wedding anniversary all of those letters were on display.

After the war, Bob returned to the University of Washington to finish his degree in Pharmacy. Bob and Pat were married on February 24, 1946. While Bob was finishing his pharmacy degree, Pat, who had already graduated in pharmacy, began working at LD Bracken’s Pharmacy. Bob finished his degree in 1947 and started working at Bracken’s Pharmacy and continued to do so for the next 39 years. Bob worked at the Medical Center store on Pill Hill and the majority of the time at the downtown store on 4th and University, in Seattle.

Bob and Pat moved out to the Shoreline area in 1950. They purchased a house on 8th NE near 145th. Both of their children, Joyce, 1950 and Wesley, 1953 were born while living at this location. The house was small and one of the activities that Bob had from his Slovak heritage was to dig. With a conveyor belt and a shovel Bob dug a full basement. It was soon after this they moved to 185th and Burke in the Shoreline area. This house had a basement!!!!!!

From 1951 to the present, Bob and Pat’s life revolved around their children and extended families. Camping along the Oregon and Washington Coasts, Lake Wenatchee, trips to Disneyland, being active in the gymnastic scene around the Pacific Northwest and nationally ,a trip back East in 1962 for a gymnastic meet and family vacation, and trips to Hawaii. These trips were highlighted by attending the 1968 Olympic Games where Joyce was a participant. Bob made two trips during his life to visit Slovakia. He made a trip with Pat in 1990 and another trip with Wesley, Dianne and Mallory in 2008. He was able to visit relatives and see where his father, John, lived until he left at age 16. Until March 24, 2020 Bob was the oldest living Tanac!!

Bob’s spiritual life began at Trinity Lutheran in Everett, Washington as a baby. The baptismal font is in honor of his mother. Throughout the years Bob was active at University Christian Church and when Joyce and Wesley left the house, he became involved in the workings and upkeep of University Christian Church. You could always depend upon Bob to do what was needed. Bob was active in Book groups, meetings on the business of the Church, a greeter, transportation for those who needed a ride and took care of the Chuc houses which were low income housing for students at the UW. Many people would chuckle as they would see Bob mowing the lawn which was on quite a slope and amazed that he did not fall and hurt himself. In fact, he did many times but would never complain. UCC gave Bob great solace and as membership dwindled the Church was sold and torn down. Bob never went by to see the empty lot. It was like a part of him was gone forever.

In 2010, Bob and Pat moved out of their house of 50 years to University House in the Wallingford area. Bob had a new community to befriend. Bob was active in the UH’s activities and was a friend to everyone. If you wanted to know what was going on Bob was the person to ask. The morning coffee group was of great importance to Bob. It was the highlight of his day and he always brought the paper down so others could read it or do the crossword. During their time at University House Bob and Pat Celebrated their 70th Wedding anniversary and it was a joyous occasion. For the next two years Bob showed all of us what unconditional love is all about as he was the main caregiver for Pat. He was with her when she passed as he had been for all 72 years of their time together. Pat passed on December 3, 2018.

Bob was a friend to everyone and always could be counted on to help out. His compassion and willingness to do whatever needed to be done is a great example for all of us.

Bob always had a great deal of energy. He loved to walk and usually quite fast. His extended family referred to him as the energizer bunny. He took the bus down to Seattle Center to watch his granddaughter finish the half marathon. After seeing her cross the finish line, he began to look for a bus to take him back to University House. The buses were not running so he decided to walk home, north on Aurora across the Aurora bridge, which is scary to drive over, and up Stone to University House. Travelled about 5-6 miles, at the age of 90. That would take a lot of Everyready batteries.

Bob was extremely proud of his extended family, Joyce and George Schroeder, Wesley and Dianne Tanac, his grandchildren, Julie ( Gillespie) and her husband Drew, Nathan and his wife Emily, Molly (Druliner) and her husband Eric and Mallory (Hill) and her husband Doug, and 4 great grandchildren, Braden Gillespie, Caden Druliner, Gavin Druliner and Isla Hill and his Goddaughter, Kris (Radke) Ilgenfritz.

Services will be announced at a later date.