Donna Jean Reisner, age 82, a longtime resident of Anacortes, ready to join our Lord, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2015, at Island Hospital in Anacortes with her family at her side. She was born to Clyde and Catherine (Winkley) Baher on April 22, 1933, in Mandan, North Dakota.
The family moved from North Dakota to Walla Walla and then to Whidbey Island where Donna attended Coupeville High School. She met and married her soul mate and loving husband, Del Reisner, from Iowa, and they made Anacortes their home town. As a twosome, they had many travel experiences and business ventures, with Donna showing talent for home interior and business design. In recent years they enjoyed winters in Palm Springs, California, where she also supervised redesigning their private community’s landscape. Most of all, family was very important to Donna and family gatherings brought her much happiness because each and every member was a source of pride and joy. Donna and Del, along with their five children and their spouses, celebrated their 65th anniversary this month, truly an example of their love and commitment to each other.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Clyde “Bud” Baher II, and a nephew, Clyde Baher III.
Donna is survived by her husband, Del, of Anacortes; daughter and son-in-law Sallie (Reisner) and John Hartman of Snohomish; son and daughter-in-law Ted and Barb Reisner of Anacortes; daughter and son-in-law Tracy (Reisner) and Dan Averill of Anacortes; daughter and son-in-law Kim (Reisner) and Greg Higgins of Anacortes; and daughter and son-in-law Kathy (Reisner) and Ron Lemon of Birdsview. She is also survived by the following grandchildren, who all attended Anacortes schools: Marisa Hartman, Mindy (Hartman) Colson and Greg Hartman; Molly Reisner, Kirsten Reisner and Heidi (Reisner) St. George; and Sara (Averill) Jenkins, Christi (Averill) Bender, Alyssa (Averill) Ploskunak and Luke Averill. Other grandchildren attending Mount Vernon and Burlington schools include Lisa (Reisner) Nelson, Chad Schafer and Tara Thomas. Their large family also has numerous great-grandchildren. Donna also leaves behind a nephew, Paul Baher, and his wife, Peggy.
Baby Baker preceded Donna’s passing and donations are welcome to the Baker Daniel Stanton Memorial Fund at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Friends of the family are invited to attend a viewing from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2015, in Evans Funeral Chapel to wish Donna farewell on her next journey. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 26, 2015, in Anacortes Lutheran Church to be followed by a luncheon reception. Please join Donna’s family and friends as they share joyful memories.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory Inc., Anacortes, and the San Juan Islands.
To share memories of Donna, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.
