Memorial service for SFC Tanner Leo Schonasky will be 12:00 p.m. Friday, October 16, 2026 at New Post Chapel on Fort Sill. Those that are planning on attending the memorial service will need to acquire a visitor's pass from the Visitor's Center at Bentley Gate on Sheridan Rd.

A Celebration of Life is pending in Wisconsin.

SFC Tanner Leo Schonasky, known to many as SFC Ski, 31, of Lawton, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 27, 2026.

Tanner was born on September 1, 1995, in Baraboo, Wisconsin, to Melissa Hatlan and Michael Ryan. He was known to his family as Sir Toad. He was primarily raised in Exeland, Wisconsin, by his mother and stepfather, retired SFC Bruce Hatlan, alongside his siblings.

He attended schools in Birchwood and Bruce before graduating from Bruce High School in 2014.

Bruce came into Tanner's life when Tanner was nearly three years old and raised him from that point forward. Tanner later followed in his stepfather's footsteps by joining the United States Army in 2014.

Tanner's Army career began as a Paralegal Specialist before he later became a Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator. He served at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Fort Hood, Texas, and while stationed at Fort Hood completed overseas rotations to both Korea and Germany.

While at Fort Hood, Tanner was selected by the Department of the Army for recruiting duty. He became an Army Recruiter and served with the Oklahoma City Recruiting Battalion. He first recruited out of the Norman Armed Forces Career Center before eventually moving into leadership and reclassing to a 79R. Tanner went on to serve as a Station Commander in both Wichita Falls, Texas, and Lawton, Oklahoma with great success.

Tanner entered the Army intending to make it a career. His plan was to serve 20 years and ultimately retire. Over the course of 12 years, he rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class, building a wide-ranging career that took him from legal work, to Field Artillery, to recruiting and leadership.

Tanner was competitive, driven, and always wanted to be at the top of whatever he was doing. He was also resourceful and was never afraid to find a different way of accomplishing something when the usual way was not working. Throughout his military career, he earned numerous awards and honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal.

Recruiting became an especially important part of Tanner's career. To him, his Future Soldiers were more than numbers on a board or contracts completed. He took an interest in the people he helped bring into the Army and continued checking on them after they left for training. He wanted to know how they were doing, whether they were adjusting, and whether they were finding their place in military life. His guidance and mentorship did not end on their ship date. Tanner continued to make himself available to the people he recruited and cared about what became of them after they left his office. He understood that he was helping a real person begin a completely new chapter of their life, and he took that responsibility seriously.

The Army was a major part of Tanner's life. It gave him a career he was proud of, took him across the country and around the world, and brought people into his life who became much more than coworkers, including SSG Gabriel Kukla, SFC William Stoner, and SFC Chayne Daniel Walsh. Tanner formed friendships throughout his career that reached far beyond the uniform.

He served as a paralegal, worked in Field Artillery, became a recruiter, and eventually led other recruiters as a Station Commander. His career proved that the path to success is not always linear. Tanner changed fields, learned new jobs, took on new responsibilities, and continued moving forward. He had every intention of continuing to serve and one day retiring from the Army.

Outside of his military service, Tanner's greatest pride was his family. He was a devoted husband to his wife of ten years, SGT Nakita Schonasky, the love of his life, and a proud and loving father to their children, Trudon "Buddy" Schonasky, 6, and Avilynn "Tweetie" Schonasky, 5. Affectionately known as Boy Child and Girl Child.

Together, Tanner and Nakita built a life and family filled with memories that will be carried forward for years to come. Tanner cherished being a father, and some of the moments he valued most were the ordinary ones spent at home, surrounded by the people he loved most.

His love for his children will remain a lasting part of their lives, reflected in the memories they shared, the stories their family will continue to tell, and the pieces of their father they will carry with them always.

Tanner liked being part of whatever was happening and certainly never minded a little attention. If Tanner was in a room, you usually knew it. He loved to laugh, joke around, have a good time, and make sure the people around him were enjoying themselves too. He had a personality that was hard to overlook and an ability to make himself memorable almost anywhere he went.

There was also a much softer side to Tanner. He was compassionate, courteous, willing to help others, and had a strong sense of justice. He listened then followed his own path. He had his own way of doing things but underneath that independence streak was a man who cared deeply about the people in his life.

Tanner was passionate about fitness and took pride in the strength, work, and discipline he put into it. He also loved fishing, traveling, hiking, cars, and spending time with his family and friends. He was especially proud of the truck he rebuilt alongside friends and family and enjoyed taking it to car shows.

During his school years he made friendships that stayed with him throughout his life. His childhood best friends Luke Olson, Kyle Roppe, Keenan Showa, and Jake Pezley remained important people to him long after their school days were over.

Two phrases Tanner lived by captured much of the way he approached life:

Memento mori - remember you must die.

Memento vivere - remember to live.

Tanner understood that life was meant to be lived. And he did live it. He traveled. He laughed. He worked hard. He pushed himself. He built a family and career. He loved the people around him. He made friendships everywhere he went, and he left behind more stories than could ever fit into an obituary.

Tanner leaves behind his beloved wife, SGT Nakita Schonasky; their children, Avilynn J. Schonasky and Trudon C. Schonasky; his parents, Melissa Hatlan and Michael Ryan; his stepfather, retired SFC Bruce Hatlan; his sisters, Amy Hatlan and Jovanah Stanford; and his brother, Elijah Hatlan, along with many other family members, friends, fellow Soldiers, Future Soldiers, and people whose lives crossed paths with his over the years.

He is also survived by his aunts and uncles, Joseph Clayton and Julie Schonasky; Michael Schonasky and his favorite Auntie Danielle Schonasky; and Richard Schonasky. He also leaves behind his great-uncles George Cole and Don Finseth, Coka and Gaga Jon and Sharon Whitebear, as well as Lori Finseth, who held the special place of being Tanner's godmother.

Tanner was preceded in death by his grandparents Larry and La Vonne Von Behren, SSG Gerald Schonasky, and Ann Stoneman, as well as his great-grandmother Margaret Hatlan-Hill and aunt, Shirley Long.

Tanner's life was full of love, laughter, service, friendship, family, and an unmistakable presence. He will be remembered by the many people whose lives he touched-and especially by those who knew that when Tanner walked into a room, the fun was about to begin.

An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com