Donna Josephine (Walenta) Fitzgerald

Donna Jo Fitzgerald, 91, of Nampa, Idaho and formerly of La Grande, Oregon passed away on June 27, 2022, in Nampa. She was born January 5, 1931, in Colfax, Washington, the second child of Thomas Rex and Carol (Olsen) Walenta. Donna Jo spent her childhood, elementary and junior high school years in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Denver, Colorado while her father completed his doctorate and practiced law. Her family ultimately moved to Moscow, Idaho where her father taught at the University of Idaho School of Law, and she completed high school at Moscow High (1948) where her mother taught.

Donna Jo attended the University of Idaho receiving her B.S. Degree in Business Education in 1952, followed by her Masters Degree in Education in 1955. After graduation, she taught in the Business Department at La Grande High School in La Grande, Oregon. It was there she met the love of her life, Roesch A. Fitzgerald, whom she married on October 15, 1955. They made their home in La Grande where they raised their four children and were active in any number of civic and social organizations, while also managing family businesses including the late Sacajawea Hotel and Annex and various commercial properties. Ultimately, her home and family were her greatest joy and priority, supporting any number of school activities and as an avid cheerleader for her children and their accomplishments over the years.

As an active member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in La Grande, Oregon and St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Nampa, Idaho, her faith was her bedrock, and she shared her talent and time belonging to the Altar Society, St. Monica’s Circle, and the Catholic Woman’s League.  She also taught religious education for many years and assisted the Finance Council and the Scholarship Committee as needed.

She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, P.E.O. Chapter N, Nampa and was a past president of Chapter CO, La Grande and Chapter AB, Moscow, and the La Grande Country Club. She took a special interest in civic affairs, supporting Roesch through his terms as City Councilor and Mayor. Donna Jo’s smile and laugh would light up the room, especially playing bridge, having belonged to several bridge and birthday groups over the years with special friends. Her whimsical quips and lighthearted witticisms were infectious, and she laughed as much as she loved. After Roesch’s passing in 1990, Donna Jo moved to Nampa to be closer to family.

Preceding Donna Jo in death are her husband, Roesch and son Thomas; sister and brother-in-law Nancy (Walenta) and Wayne C. MacGregor; Roesch’s sister and brother-in-law Nancy (Fitzgerald) and Thomas Stack, niece Nancy Claire Stack Chapman, and nephew-in-law Dean Diffin.

Surviving Donna Jo are her children, daughter Ann (Brian) Jones, son Bill Fitzgerald of Nampa and son Paul (Kayann) Fitzgerald and granddaughters Joelle and Claire of Bellevue, WA; and nieces and nephews Shawnna MacGregor (Jimmie Brown), Molly (Roger) Cole, Bridget Baker, Kirk (Beth) MacGregor, Cathleen (Jon) Irby, Leslie Diffin, Jill (Tom) Wimberly, Dan Stack, Monica (John) Suryan, Art Chapman, John Stack and their families.

A viewing will be held from 5:00 p.m.to 6:00 p.m. followed by a recitation of the Rosary on July 6, 2022, at Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th Ave. So., Nampa.  A funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on July 7, 2022, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 510 W. Roosevelt Ave., Nampa. A Christian burial will be held in La Grande, Oregon at the La Grande Cemetery Hillcrest-East (600 S. 12th Street) at 1:00 p.m. on July 8, 2022. An online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul’s School, P.E.O. Chapter N or Chapter CO scholarships, or a charity of your choice.

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