Tania Lucille Kerr

Our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Tania Lucille Kerr passed away on November 9, 2023, surrounded by her family. She loved deeply and compassionately and was loved in return.

Tania was born on December 1, 1968 to Karon (Hapke) Mitchell and Jerry Baker in Idaho Falls, Idaho. From a young age, she was drawn to caring and protecting others. Her kind nature, sense of humor and unconditional love drew others to her. Throughout her early years, she enjoyed making memories with her best friends, Wenda (Hansen) Curtis, Heidi Rassmussen and Ariane Russell. She rocked in the 1980s and owned the 1990s. Her deep love for music and popular culture drove her and her friends to Salt Lake City, UT nearly every six weeks to attend rock concerts and make memories. She enjoyed seeing her favorite artists including Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Van Halen and David Lee Roth. Her love for live concerts would follow her for the remainder of her life. She would go on to see Billy Joel and Fleetwood Mac live, sitting in the stands, singing the lyrics with those she loved, recalling the memories and cherishing those being made within those moments. She attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School, Chubbuck Elementary, Irving Jr. High and Pocatello HIgh School. She graduated from Pocatello High School in 1987.

Tania showed an appreciation for the beauty of nature and loved traveling to her father’s property near Stanley, Idaho for vacations each summer. Although she did not enjoy swimming, she enjoyed being near beautiful bodies of water, such as Stanley Lake, Redfish Lake and Alturas Lake. As a teen, she spent a summer in Washington with her father and stepmother and often recalled the beauty of the area. Similarly, she enjoyed her trip to Puerto Vallarta and traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada. In her teen years, she learned to ski from her bonus father, Gordon Hapke, and skied at Pebble Creek Ski Area. As she grew into young adulthood, she began to focus on achieving her goals and finding a partner to share her life with.

Tania met Richard Kerr while working as a waitress. After several weeks of persuasion, she agreed to go on a date with him and fell in love with him. While falling in love with her soon-to-be husband, she fell in love with her soon-to-be bonus daughter, Brianne Lee Kerr. Tania and Richard were married on June 27, 1992 at the First Congregational Church in Pocatello, Idaho. Shortly after being wed in 1992, Tania gave birth to Madison Jo Kerr (Elliott) on July 16, 1993. Tania and Richard spent 31 years together prior to Tania’s death in November. They enjoyed traveling throughout Idaho, Nevada, Utah, California and Florida, often attending Nascar races, concerts, theme parks, dance competitions and wherever else they and their daughters’ hobbies took them. Both Tania and Richard shared the traits of dependability and honesty, two traits that worked best in their marriage. Tania formed deep connections with her brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws and loved them wholeheartedly.

Tania empowered her daughters from a young age to be determined, independent, confident and assertive. She taught her daughters how to love deeply and show compassion while also being firm, strong and competent. As a mother she was nurturing, accepting and

attentive, even in the wee hours of the morning or right before bed. She told her daughters “I love you” every night before they fell asleep and always before hanging up the phone. Tania graduated from Idaho State University in 1997, obtaining a Bachelor of Social Work degree, following in the footsteps of her mother, who graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 1989. She began studying Social Work in 1992, beginning as a work study student at the “Second Time Around” Thrift Store. In this position, she supported consumers in their efforts of running a Mental Health Clubhouse. She would continue to work at this agency for many years, eventually becoming the owner. Her greatest achievement in life was not being a business owner; but bearing witness to the healing power of compassion, understanding and empathy. She trained many new social workers and those in the social service profession how to be professional, successful and most importantly, kind. On many occasions, she would lend her expertise to incoming Social Work graduates, including her daughter. Tania entered the Master of Social Work program at Idaho State University in 2021, prior to becoming ill. She was well-versed in all aspects of the Social Work profession. Her compassionate nature and unconditional acceptance made her an exceptional Social Worker, colleague and business owner. She and her colleagues would go on to create the “Life in Recovery” program at Consumer Care, LLC, working closely with Adult Probation and Parole and the Bannock County courts, allowing those with mental illnesses the opportunity to rehabilitate to reduce recidivism and vulnerability. In 2017, she would go on to be honored by the community for her efforts and success within this area. She changed many individuals’ opinions on mental health through education. She was passionate about changing the stigma of mental illnesses and encouraging the community to recognize the need for mental health services and more attention to circumstances contributing to mental illnesses. She could facilitate any group gathering and often facilitated funerals for members of the agency who did not have family.

She had a special connection with each member of her family. Her first best friend was her mother, Karon Hapke. They had a knack for sensing when the other was upset or in pain. She loved her father, Jerry and enjoyed spending time in nature with him. She loved her bonus parents, Bronica Baker and Gordon Hapke. She loved Bronica’s recipes and learned patience and forgiveness from Gordon.

 She loved her siblings (Kerry, DeDe and Joe) unconditionally. She first became an aunt in 1989 following the birth of her nephew, Zach and again in 1991 following the birth of her niece, Haylee. In 1992, she was given the gift of a daughter, 3-year old Brianne Lee Kerr. In 1993, she gave birth to her daughter, Madison Jo Kerr (Elliott) at the age of 24. She soon became an aunt again in 2002 and 2003, following the birth of her niece Angela and nephew Robert and again in 2012, following the birth of her nephew, Ty Josef. Her greatest joy came in 2022 when her first daughter gave birth to her grandson, Daynor Lukas Hartman. She gained a son-in-law in 2013, following her daughter’s marriage to Jack Elliott, whom she loved like her own child. She was happiest when her family was happy. She was an assertive advocate to all whom she loved.

Tania was preceded in death by her grandfather, Ronald Baker; her brother-in-law, Kevin Roger Kerr, friends, colleagues and clients of Consumer Care. She is survived by her husband, Richard Kerr, daughters Madison (Jack) Elliott; Brianne (Troy) Hartman; parents, Karon (Gordon) Hapke, father, Jerry (Bronica) Baker; brothers Joe (Lisa) Baker, Kerry Fonnesbeck; sister, DeDe Fonnesbeck; siblings-in-law Karl (Misty) Kerr, Jeff (Mary) Kerr; nieces and nephews Tyler (Randi) Kerr, Courtney (Tyson) Koester; Haylee, Zach (Anahi), Ty, Sylas, Colin, Greyson, Aria and Elijah. 

A memorial will be held for Tania at Grace Lutheran Church on December 2, 2023 at 11:00 am with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Grace Lutheran Church to benefit members of the congregation enduring physical health and financial challenges resulting from cancer diagnoses. To honor Tania’s life, her family and friends invite you to practice her kindness, love and compassion toward others. Be resilient, be forgiving, be honest and stay determined.

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