By Michael Ramsey and Tim Dornin
ADELAIDE, Dec 14 AAP - Former South Australian premier John Bannon will be honoured with a state funeral.
The state's longest serving Labor premier died on Sunday, aged 72, after a long battle with cancer.
Mr Bannon served as SA leader from 1982 to 1992, winning three elections for the ALP, and stood down as premier following the State Bank collapse, leaving politics at the 1993 election.
Premier Jay Weatherill read a statement on behalf of Mr Bannon's family on Monday.
"For his family, he will always be cherished as a husband, a brother, a father, a grandfather and dear friend," the statement said.
"We will miss his wise and witty stories, songs and poetry readings at family gatherings, especially at this time of year.
"The outpouring of love and support from friends and acquaintances have been an incredible source of strength and made this difficult time easier to bear."
Mr Bannon would be remembered for his commitment to public life, academic passion and contributions to the sporting and arts world, his family said.
A "marathon runner to the last", Mr Bannon had been determined to see through a number of milestones in his final weeks, including the first day-night Test at Adelaide Oval.
"It was a source of marvel for many of his colleagues and friends to see the way in which he battled with cancer," the premier told reporters.
"Right to the very end, he was in conversations with me talking about ways in which we could advance SA in the federation, using the skills and knowledge that he'd developed over the decades."
During Mr Bannon's time in office, Adelaide won the first submarine construction contract, won the right to stage the Formula One grand prix and established the Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine.
Towards the end of Labor's third term, bad lending decisions led to the collapse of the government-owned State Bank with the state government forced to provide a $3 billion bail-out.
As state treasurer, Mr Bannon was cleared of any wrongdoing but quit as leader and left the parliament at the 1993 election, which Labor lost in a landslide.
A key political rival also paid tribute to Mr Bannon on Monday, saying he changed and modernised Labor in SA.
John Olsen served as opposition leader during much of Mr Bannon's time in office and described Mr Bannon as a genuine and sincere man.
He said despite their political differences, they worked together on occasions and he valued the fact that the premier never breached any confidences they shared.
"That's a measure of the genuine and sincere nature of John Bannon," Mr Olsen told ABC radio. "A measure of the way in which he tackled the tasks in front of him, the way in which he changed and modernised Labor in South Australia."
Mr Weatherill said Mr Bannon's family had accepted the offer of a state funeral and revealed on Twitter that it would be held at Adelaide's St Peter's Cathedral on December 21.
