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Donna Jayne Wharton
Donna Jayne Wharton
Marion
Donna Jayne Wharton, 98, of Marion, Iowa passed away Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. A private graveside service will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, assisted the family.
Donna was born September 5, 1925, in Dubuque, Iowa to Zona (Leffert) and Fred Thompson. She lived her early childhood in Dubuque until her family moved to Cedar Rapids in 1937. Donna was united in marriage to Harry “Ed” Wharton on November 17, 1946, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and spent a wonderful 69 years together before Ed’s passing in 2016.
During Ed’s 26 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Donna made a warm and loving home for them as they traveled the United States. They especially loved their time spent in Biloxi, Miss., where during those years, they welcomed many family members to come and make wonderful memories with them. She cherished that time and formed a special and loving bond with the first born and oldest niece and nephew, Kerry Lynn and Thaddeus “Ron.”
When Ed retired service with the Air Force, they started their bus tour service, DJ Bus Tours, and begin an adventure crisscrossing the United States for over 10 years, continuing to make treasured memories, and gaining many friendships along the journey.
Upon official retirement, Ed and Donna spent many years at their beloved mobile home in Prairie Du Chen, Wis., where they enjoyed time with family fishing, time in the sun and gambling at the local casino. Donna is survived by her two sisters, Joyce Miller and Nancy Reed and many loving nieces, nephews, and their families.
Along with her husband, Ed, she is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, her brothers-in-law, Dave Reed and Thad Miller Jr., nephews, Tracy and Thad, very special friend, John Hlavacek and all of her special four-legged pups that are waiting to meet her in heaven.
Please share a memory of Donna at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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