Donna K. Jantzen of Echo died on Jan. 12, 2021 in Hermiston at the age of 75.
She was born on June 1, 1945 in Spokane, Wash. to James and Earlene Renfroe.
The middle child of three girls, Donna spent much of her time growing up in East Wenatchee, Wash. After high school, she attended college and met her first husband, Richard Rose, whom she had her only child with while living in Vancouver, Wash. Donna divorced and moved back to Wenatchee, eventually relocating to Clarkston, Wash. and marrying Eugene Peters. She worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital as a dietary supervisor and then went back to college to obtain her coding degree and became a medical records coding and billing specialist in a local anesthesia clinic.
Donna raised her son, Robert, in Clarkston until his graduation from high school and was active in her local church. Her free time was spent in genealogy research, crafting, or camping with Gene. With Gene’s passing, Donna eventually moved to Echo to be near her son and daughter-in-law and to be near her three granddaughters, whom she was enormously proud of. Donna attended the local church in Echo, again volunteering in various roles, including the Sunday school program. She attended her granddaughters’ games, events and concerts avidly, always seeking to be there to see them growing up. Eventually, Donna married Frank Jantzen, to whom she was married for 10 years. Donna especially enjoyed living with Robert and his family these last months, as she was able to hear the joyful singing of her granddaughters that filled the house each day.
Donna is survived by her husband, Frank Jantzen of Echo; son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Marie Rose of Echo; two sisters, Barb and Joe Hahn of Wenatchee and Patti and Conrad Thoroughman of East Wenatchee; Frank’s sister and brother-in-law, Alice and John Taylor of Pendleton; Frank’s sister,
Terry Coons of Houston, Texas; Frank’s three children, Mark and Malissa Jantzen of Oregon, Isaac and Kristie Jantzen and their two boys of Santa Clara, Calif. and Jennifer Jantzen of Colorado; and her three granddaughters, Alexa, Mckenzie and Emily Rose of Echo.
A family celebration gathering will be held.
Please share memories of Donna with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
