‘Farewell Tank, losing you will leave a big hole in our hearts’
TRIBUTES TO ‘PASSIONATE’ COACH AND SCHOOL WORKER
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Derby youth worker and grandfather who died unexpectedly from a heart attack.
Debender Singh Tank, known in the Derby community as “Tank”, grew up in Normanton and most recently lived in Stenson Fields. He was 59 when he suffered a heart attack on March 17.
He is survived by his wife, two children and two grandchildren who all feel his passing has “left a big hole in their hearts.”
Tank, who was of Punjabi descent, was a keen community worker, he managed Punjab United Football Club Derby’s youth team and he also worked as a pastoral lead at Kingsmead School.
His son, 33-year-old Kamen Tank, said: “It was very unexpected. He was healthy, but had a heart attack on the day he passed.
“He’s left a hole in all our hearts because we went to him for everything. He was our strength and guidance. We spoke to him day-to-day and he guided us through our lives.
“He was such a great family man but not only to us, he was known by thousands of people, particularly in the Punjabi community.
“For around 16 to 17 years until he died, he worked with children at Kingsmead School and lots of them have sent lovely messages and things.
“He worked with children with complex needs and supported them through hard times. My dad was a massive person in the community and everyone he met remembered him.
“He was passionate about managing the Punjab United football team and he played for them too in the 1980s.”
Tank had various other jobs in his life including as an apprentice at Rolls Royce, a bus driver, and for a local rail company. A fundraiser for “Tank’s Memorial Garden” set up by his daughter aimed to raise £100, but has gone on to raise £3,279 in just over two weeks. Daughter Amiee Arnott, 35, said: “It’s a big loss. For me, I think about the grandchildren because he spent every weekend with them so I’m devastated for them.
“He showed them so much, from football, to cooking, to general life skills. Before he passed away, he wanted to build an outdoor kitchen in the garden where he could cook for family, friends, and some of the young people he worked with. It would have been somewhere to grow his own food, too. We’ve decided to put a bench in there and create a memorial garden to him with a growing area where we can sit and remember him.
“We started a fundraiser for that and the response from local people has been amazing. We’re so thankful for the donations.”
Tank’s funeral took place on Wednesday at Trent Valley Crematorium.
We went to him for everything. He was our strength and guidance.
Son Kamen