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Donna Nelson Obituary
October 6, 1956 - May 16, 2024
Panama City Beach, Florida - Donna Katherine (Wagner) Nelson passed away at her home in Panama City Beach, FL, on May 16, 2024, surrounded by loving and supportive family members. She was 67 years old.
Donna Katherine was born at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, LA, to 1st Lt. Louis C. Wagner and Katherine (Westendick) Wagner, where her father flew B-47 bombers for the U.S. Air Force.
The first born of her family, she was soon followed by two siblings, Christopher and Theresa. Not long after, the family began the roaming Air Force life, moving to Bunker Hill Air Force Base in Indiana, Torrejon Air Base in Spain, and to Beale Air Force near Yuba City, CA, and adding brothers Matthew and David and sister Ann to the family. Donna Katherine attended high school at Yuba City High and welcomed her youngest sister, Karen. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology in the early 1980's from Sacramento State University and enrolled in graduate program classes in Nutritional Science. She married her first husband, Stanley Nelson, in 1982, in Sacramento, CA. Stanley preceded her in death in 2012. She married her current husband, John Vostrez, in 2020. The couple moved from California to Florida in 2023 to be closer to members of her family. Her youngest brother, David Wagner, died in 2015.
Donna Katherine is survived by her parents and brother Matthew of Tallahassee, FL; brother Chris Wagner and wife Mary of Bozeman, MT; sister Theresa Tremaine and husband Marty of Vancouver, WA; sister Ann Arp and husband Jamie of Portland, OR; and sister Karen and husband, Isham Colosetti of Woodstock, GA; as well as nieces and nephews Brian and Bill Tremaine; Kate, Jack and James Arp; and Erin Murphy.
Donna Katherine worked as a manager in a children's home, as a substitute teacher and also in many roles where she was able to use her education as well as her innate talent and affection for home décor. Donna loved to travel and visit and laugh with her family and friends. She was exceedingly kind and gracious, a high performer and organizer, thoughtful, caring and intelligent. She was a fiercely loyal and devoted wife, friend, daughter and sister. She was a passionate Christian, reflecting her faith and sharing the love of God with everyone she met and an inspiration to all who knew her.
Graveside services were at the family plot in Oakland Cemetery in Tallahassee, FL on June 29, 2024.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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