James Iran Tanis

James Iran Tanis died in his home in Sedona, Arizona peacefully on Sept. 30, 2022 surrounded by his family.

Jim was born Oct. 8, 1934 in Zeeland, Michigan and attended Michigan Tech University class of 1957 with a BS in Geological Engineering and 1958 with a MS in Geophysical Engineering, then continued his education at the University of Utah with a PhD in Geophysics.  He went to work for Shell Oil Company in several locations within the country and enjoyed skiing, hunting, mountain climbing and hiking.  In 1971, he went to work for Conoco for 21 years and worked in Alaska, South America, Europe and Africa. He retired and having built his dream home in 1993, moved to Sedona and has enjoyed the many wonders of Arizona, the US and a vast number of other countries by combining his love for travel and hiking.

Jim married Angie Tanis in 1970 and they were married until her passing in 2004.  He married Jan Tanis in 2007.  He is survived by his wife, Jan, his stepdaughter Kelly Van Hull and his stepsons Mark Morein and Brad Van Hull, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Over his 30 plus years in Sedona, he was involved with the Sedona Westerners, Search and Rescue, Church of the Red Rocks, Red Rock Rovers among others.  Jim was passionate about many things but helping kids in Uganda was his biggest passion of the past twelve years.  He co-founded a charity called Bwindi Community Program in 2010.  "Hope for a Future through Education" is the goal.

There will be no funeral as per his wishes but a celebration of life may be planned in the near future.  In lieu of flowers, the family wishes a donation to Jim's passion, BwindiCommunityProgram.org.