Wayne J. Tanous

Wayne J. Tanous, 72, Bismarck, died March 16, 2017, peacefully at his home in the presence of his family. A memorial service will be held on Thursday at 10:30 AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bismarck with Rev. Craig Schweitzer officiating.  Burial will be at 1:00 PM at ND Veterans Cemetery. Wayne, the son of Alfred and Wilma (Potter) Tanous, was born on April 22, 1944, in Hettinger, ND, where he attended school and graduated in 1962.  Following a two year attempt at Dickinson State College, Wayne left for California and attended college for a time at Glendale College.  In 1966, his adventure began with a four year stint in the US Navy, where he served stateside as a neuropsychiatric technician at the Oakland Naval Hospital while his wife taught school in the local school districts.  Returning to North Dakota in 1970, they moved to Grand Forks where Wayne graduated from the University in 1972. Interesting jobs with the Grand Forks Police Department and as the chief probation officer for the first judicial district’s Juvenile Court led to securing a job with the North Dakota Combined Law Enforcement Council in 1975 as the juvenile justice coordinator and subsequently a position with MDU in 1979 where he ultimately became the director of state governmental affairs until his retirement in 2001. During his career, Wayne served on numerous boards and foundations.  He served as a board member and chairman of the Bismarck-Mandan Convention Bureau, Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, North Dakota Four-H Foundation, Old West Trail Foundation, and was on the board of Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation.  Wayne was also a life-member of the DAV, American Legion, and Amvets, and belonged to the Elks Club.  In 1966, Wayne married Karen K. Strand and they had two sons, Al (DeAn) and granddaughters, Devin and Hannah, and grandson, Conner; and Jason (Melissa) and grandson, Jayden, and granddaughter, Katirina, all of whom they loved very much.  Wayne is survived by these special people as well his brothers, Michael of Colorado Springs, CO, and Larry (Donna) of Hemet, CA, and his sister, Kathy (Ken) Virtue of Vancouver, WA. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Don; as well as his wife of forty years, Karen.  Memorials may be given to the ND Veterans Cemetery. Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Wayne and to sign the online guestbook.