William "Bill" Tanata

     William “Bill” Tanata, 76, Jamestown, ND passed away Saturday, March 18, 2023 at SMP-Health, Jamestown, ND.

     William “Bill” M. Tanata was born January 10, 1947 in Jamestown, ND to John F. Tanata and Theresa R. (Degen) Tantata.  He graduated from St. John’s Academy in Jamestown.  After high school he joined the Navy and became a Sonar Technician aboard the USS Bordelon DD881, stationed in Charleston, SC.  He was discharged after 4 years as E5. 

     After the Navy he moved to Lacrosse, WI where he to Western Wisconsin Technical Institute receiving an Associate Degree in data processing.  He then moved to Madison, WI where he worked as a counter worker at A to Z Rental for 10 years.  From there he moved to Fargo, ND where he worked a few jobs, mainly as a machinist at Precision Machine.

     After retirement he moved back to Jamestown, ND.  His hobbies included wood carving, fishing, going to Milwaukee Brewer baseball games and one Packers game when he lived in Madison.  Bill also enjoyed reading mystery novels and articles on science and technology.  He loved driving around the country roads in Stutsman County taking landscape pictures.  Then processing the photo’s in a photo editor and turning the pictures into Photo-Art.

     No service will be scheduled at this time.  Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in the spring.

     Bill is survived by his siblings Elaine (Michigan), Norma (Minnesota), Mary Ann (North Dakota); many nieces and nephews; special nephews Leroy, Willie and Owen.  He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents (Tanata’s) and maternal grandparents (Degen’s), parents, brother Dennis, and two brothers-in-law Dick Gillingham and Charles Grant.

     Eddy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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