Donna Rynhart

Donna Rynhart

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 13, 2016, Donna Marie Sickler Rynhart, 85, died of causes incident to age.

She was born January 9, 1931 in Ogden, Utah to Sidney Nichols and Ilah May Dean Evans Sickler. She was the sixth of seven children and had two brothers and four sisters.

June 18, 1948, she married Billy Lawrence Rynhart in Ogden. The marriage was later solemnized for all eternity in the Logan LDS Temple. Bill preceded her in death on April 27, 1986. Donna was just 55 years old when she lost her eternal companion and remained faithful for the next 30 years awaiting their heavenly reunion.

She was educated and grew up in Ogden. She began her Civil Service career in 1966 at the Defense Depot of Ogden (DDOU). Due to her outstanding work ethic, dedication to duty, and her desire to achieve higher goals, she worked her way up to Chief Supervisor of the Freight Data Section. During her over 26 year career, she received many awards and letters of appreciation and outstanding yearly performance ratings. She distinguished herself as an exceptional government employee/manager, setting an enviable example for others to follow.

As a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served various callings including Chorister for several years where she shared her musical talent and angelic singing voice. Donna shared her beautiful voice openly throughout her lifetime by singing in various groups, choirs, and performing independently.

She loved to garden, planting flowers and produce which she shared, friends would bring buckets to fill every year to harvest the grapes growing in her yard. She kept a manicured yard and an immaculate house. Yet, her greatest joy came from her family. She was overjoyed with the birth of her daughter, Vicky, as she was originally told she would never be able to have children. Her family was complete when her son, Roger, came to the family. Donna and Bill built a duplex to provide a home for their family but also for her parents to live. This duplex became the future home of many of her siblings, children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren throughout the decades. She opened herself and her home to those in need and may people became part of “Grandma’s” family. She never judged anyone by their circumstances, gave freely of all she had, and could always see the good in a difficult situation. She was truly a Christ-like example to all who knew her. At 50 years old, she adopted three grandchildren, one with a severe intellectual disability. Even after losing her spouse, she demonstrated an exceptional ability to persevere, keep her faith in God, never complain, provide happiness, and keep moving forward. Her life was entirely dedicated to others. She knew the meaning of sacrifice and through her pure heart possessed the essence of unconditional love. She will live on through the hearts of all those she touched.

Surviving are her daughter, Vicky (Charles) Edmonds; son, Roger (Tanja Schaffer) Rynhart; sister, Joyce (Ralph) Cosentino; grandchildren, Suzanne Edmonds, Lori (Brandon) Lovett, Nancy (Cody) Dahl, Brock Rynhart, Brittany Rynhart, Brianna Rynhart; great-grandchildren, Anastasia (AJ) Pili, Madolynn Bush, Brayden Halterman, Kierra Halterman, Quincey Lovett, Tyler Edmonds, Tyson Castillo, Tia Castillo, Taryn Castillo, Caron Fae (Sergio) Soenen, Patrick Ryan Lynch, James D. Hanna, Joy Gardner, Sydney (Celeste) Gardner, Stella (Wilson) Copeland, and RayeAnn Archer.

Funeral services will be Monday, September 19, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. The family will meet with friends at the mortuary Monday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Road.