Tanjore Earl Splan, Jr.

On March 12, 2020, Tanjore Earl Splan, Jr. died at the age of 90. He was born in St. Ignace, Mi. As a child he was declared a ward of the court and went to live in the Emma C. Nason Children's Home in Sault Ste, Marie, Mi., where he resided from age 3 to 11, along with 2 of his 3 brothers. He credits the caring people at that facility for teaching him good moral values and instilling in him his strong sense of integrity. At age 11 he was "fostered" out to a family to work on their farm, while attending school in Pickford, Mi. At age 16, in 1945, he left high school and shipped on the Great Lakes as a coal-passer on an ore boat; subsequently becoming a fireman on the Mackinac Island ferry through the summer of 1946. Following his 17th birthday in 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the 82nd Airborne until 1949. During the summer of 1949 he worked on Mackinac Island as a carriage driver. In the fall, at age 20, he returned to High School in Pickford, Mi. where he completed his senior year and graduated. In 1950, when hostilities broke out in Korea, he felt certain it was the beginning of World War III so he re-enlisted in the Army. In Korea, (where he became known as "Tim") he served with the 555 FAB, 5th Regimental Combat Team, and was promoted to Sergeant 1st class. After Korea, he served as an Army Sergeant Instructor for the California National Guard, and a Warrant Officer JG Unit Administrator. In 1955 he joined the Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Department as a Deputy Sheriff. During the turbulent 60s and 70s, he gallantly served as a member of the "Blue Meanies" during the 1967 stop-the-draft flag-burning riots at the Army Induction Center in Oakland, at the Sproul Hall sit-ins/riots at UC Berkeley in 1968, and the People's Park riots in Berkeley in 1969. In 1976 he was an investigative detective on the infamous "Chowchilla Kidnapping" of 26 children and their school bus driver who were buried alive inside a box truck in a rock quarry. Tanj served as President of the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs' Assn. 1972-1976. After 25 years of dedicated service, Detective Sergeant "Tim" Splan retired from the Sheriff's Department in 1980. After moving to Port Angeles, WA, he became active in veterans' affairs, serving as Commander of American Legion Washington Post 29; he later transferred membership to Greenville, Michigan Post 101. He also served as Quartermaster and Life Member in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Washington Post 1024, and served four terms as President of the Clallam Co. Washington Veterans' Association. Tanj was also a Life Member of the Korean War Veterans' Association where he served as Commander 2012-2016. He was a Life member of the 5th Regimental Combat Team Association and a Life Member in the Disabled American Veterans. Tanjore was a proud member of the Sault Ste. Marie, Mi. tribe of Chippewa Indians. He was predeceased by his father, Tanjore Earl Splan, Sr.; his mother, Veronica Maki (née Cadreau); Ruth & Harold (Mom & Dad) Beacom—dear friends who loved him as their own; sisters, Betty Fay Splan, Mary Ellen Andress, Vivian Andress Oberle, Georgiana Andress Drouillard, and beloved brother, Ronald Wilson Splan. He is survived by his wife, Dawn (née Hanson), and his children Tanjore Splan III (Laura) of Modesto, Ca.; Laurette Mari (James) of Libby, Mt., and Claire Splan of Alameda, Ca. He is also survived by brothers William Joseph Splan (Alice), Erland Splan (widower of Joan); 3 granddaughters, 4 great granddaughters, and many nieces and nephews. In accordance with Tanj's wishes, he will be cremated, there will be no services. Please send NO FLOWERS. If you would like to offer a remembrance, no kinder tribute could be made than a donation to the VFW National Home For Children. Since 1925 the National Home has made a commitment to honor our nation's veterans and active-duty military by providing help and hope for their children and families. Please go to https://www.vfwnationalhome.org/.