Regis J. Tanking, 82, of Seneca, Kansas, died on Friday, February 27, 2015, at his home, after a battle with lung cancer.

Regis was born on August 27, 1932, the son of Alfred and Catherine Runnebaum Tanking, on a farm three miles south of Seneca. Regis grew up east of Seneca on the Tanking Homestead and attended Sts. Peter and Paul School. He helped on the family farm before going to serve his country. Regis served in the U.S. Army from February 18, 1953 to January 7, 1955, with the Command Chief Co. K 87th Infantry.

On June 27, 1953 he married Lucille M. Wessel at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. The couple celebrated 57 years of marriage before her death on August 24, 2010.

While Regis served his country, they lived in Louisiana. The couple returned to Nemaha County and lived on a farm from 1955 until 1959; when they moved to Seneca. From 1955 to 1958 he worked for Paul Korber. From 1958 to 1962 Regis was employed by Elwyn Haug as a heavy equipment operator, doing work for soil conservation service. In 1971, he purchased the Massey Ferguson Equipment Company in Seneca. He went to work for the Nemaha County Bridge and Road Department as the foreman from 1977 until his retirement.

Regis was elected onto the Seneca Volunteer Fire Department in January 1962 and retired in 1981, after 20 years. During his tenure on the fire department he served on the dance committee in 1973 and 1981. In addition, he was the Lieutenant of Truck #1 from 1965 thru 1967 and 1977 and was the Captain of Truck #1 from 1968 thru 1970. He also served as the Training Officer in 1971, as Second Assistant Chief in 1971, 1974 thru 1976 and 1978 and as First Assistant Chief in 1972, 1977, 1979 and 1980.

He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church (ushering for over 20 years), St. Joseph’s Society, the Earl W. Taylor Post #21where he was a past commander, a life time member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1769 and was on the Seneca Volunteer Fire Department. Regis was also elected to serve on the Seneca City Council in 2001.

Besides his wife Lucille, he was preceded in death by a brother John on October 4, 2009.

He is survived by two sons, Glen (Steve) Tanking of Palm Springs, California and Duane (Jane) Tanking of Seneca; two daughters, Karen (Shirley) Tanking of Axtell and LoriAnn Tanking of Seneca; two brothers, Elmer Tanking of Tonganoxie and Jerry Tanking of Liberal, Kansas; three sisters, Alda Mae Frey of Chandler, Ariziona, Eileen Meyer of Sabetha and Jerri Ann Matzke of Silver Lake; three grandchildren, Eric Tanking of St. Petersburg, Florida, Katie Heiman of Baileyville and Jeff Tanking of Holton; and three great grandchildren, Addison and Kayson Heiman and Miles Tanking.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 and 7 PM on Sunday, March 1st, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday at 11 AM on March 2, 2015 at Sts. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Full military honors will be provided by the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Earl W. Taylor Post #21; and a flag line by the American Legion Riders Post #21.

Memorial contributions may be given in Regis’s memory to C.O.I.N.S. for a Cause, sent in care of the family.