Donna Jo Eberhart, 73, left us all way too soon on March 18, 2024. No words can express how heartbroken we all are with the passing of our mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend.

November 2023 brought an unexpected and devastating cancer diagnosis that there was no fixing. She fought her fight as best she could under the circumstances. We are all so grateful for the additional time we got with her, and as painful as it was to let her go, we are also at peace knowing she doesn't have to fight anymore.

Donna was born November 22, 1950, in Deadwood, SD, to Larry and Norma Jahnel. The family relocated to Pasco in 1952, where she graduated from Pasco High in 1969.

She married Don Wharton in 1969 and had her two children, Brenda and Danny, but divorced in 1977.

She didn't remarry until July 1993, when she married her high-school sweetheart, Jim Eberhart. They were destined to be together; it just took a couple decades for the timing to be right. Life with Jim included dancing, motorcycle rides, many trips to Maui, road trips to see family and friends, and the occasional "booze run" to Winnemuca. Sadly, Jim passed away just three months prior to Donna.

Brenda gave Donna her first grandchild, Chase, aka "the golden child." Chase's hockey career turned Donna into a "hockey grandma" and led to her love of hockey. Over the years she supported Chase's hockey wholeheartedly, especially with hotel and gas money. Her travels to watch Chase play took her to many places, but her favorite hockey trip of all time was to Humboldt, Saskatchewan in 2012 for the Royal Bank Cup. In 2022, when Chase married Tiara, Donna got the party of a lifetime that she had so waited for, but her most precious gifts were her two great-granddaughters, Alpha Rae and Hendrix. Donna and Jim were Alpha's daycare multiple days a week up until the day Donna was diagnosed. Donna cherished every minute, every bacon snack, and every jellybean she got to spend with Alpha. Alpha misses her Gigi every day.

Danny and his wife Janet gave Donna her granddaughter Becky. Donna was the proudest grandma traveling to Iowa in May 2023 to see Becky graduate from Iowa State University. Becky's life took Donna to dance recitals and swim meets, but most recent years put Donna back in the hockey rink watching Becky playing hockey but ultimately choosing to pursue refereeing. Most recently Becky was invited to referee a USHL prospect camp in Dallas, TX. Even sick, Donna did everything she could to make sure Dan and Janet had what they needed to make it to Dallas to watch Becky. And because of the illness, Donna struggled to watch anything for too long, but she was so excited to be able to watch a couple of Becky's games on-line. Just before Donna's passing, Becky was invited to referee for Nationals in Sioux Falls, SD, and boy was Donna so happy.

Jim brought two children, Aundria and Michael, to the relationship. Unfortunately, both Aundria and Michael preceded Donna and Jim in death. Although unbearable to lose both children, Donna and Jim were blessed with their grandson Christian. They cherished every moment they got to spend with him; a new Pez dispenser (or two) every visit, swimming at Dan's, many trips to the trampoline park, going to the demo derby and fair, and just hanging out with the family. And Christian was always so excited to see them.

Donna's early career included Lady of Lourdes hospital, Black Angus restaurant, and General Telephone, before eventually accepting a position with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where she eventually retired with 27 years of service.

Donna was a Pasco Police reservist from 1977 to 1983, had at least 50 years as a member of the WIBC and USBC Bowling Associations that included one spectacular 279 game and many 200+ games, she was a 47-year member of the Moose Lodge, and long-time member of the American Legion and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Donna created lasting relationships with everything she did and anywhere she went.

We will miss her party-planning skills, her hockey cow bell, her "being good for at least one round," and her enormous love of family.

Donna will always be remembered as Grandma Donna, Gigi, a Cruzin' Cousin, and an Outlaw Woman.

It's hard to imagine that our hearts can even begin to mend, but they will because of the laughter she brought, the glue she created to keep our large and distant family together, and all the great memories of family gatherings, hockey games, Maui, casino stops, simulated bowling, tequila shots, Thanksgiving pre-funks, 4th of July in South Dakota, Coors Light, showing the young guys how to tackle a Trident at Sam's Saloon, frying pan up-side the head, hittin' the trifecta in Jackson Hole, looking for eye brows on the floor, knowing just what to tell the doctor when you fall off a bar stool, going "warp 10" in a police car, and the list goes on and on.

She is survived by her daughter, Brenda Wharton and partner Monte Ferron; son, Dan and Janet Wharton; grandson, Chase and Tiara Wharton; granddaughter, Becky Wharton and partner Jadon; grandson, Christian Eberhart; great-granddaughters, Alpha and Hendrix Wharton; sister, Rhonda Ross; sister, Lois and Bill Eberhart; sister-in-law, Donna and Bob Reed; and multiple other family across multiple states.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Eberhart; parents, Larry and Norma Jahnel; brother, David Jahnel; stepdaughter, Aundria Eberhart, and stepson, Michael Eberhart.

Graveside services will be held at Mueller's Desert Lawn Memorial Park, located at 1401 S. Union Street, Kennewick at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024. A 1:00 p.m. reception will follow at the Pasco Eagles, 2829 W. Slyvester St, Pasco.