Donald Wayne Eide passed away of natural causes on Tuesday January 24th 2023 at the age of 75.

He was born on October 12, 1947 in Seattle, Washington.  He moved to Enumclaw with his family in 1953, graduating from Enumclaw High School in 1965. Donald then attended Yakima Valley Community College where he was a football standout and also a wrestler, taking 6th in State in the community college division.  YVCC is where he met and later married Rosemary Rehfield on August 22, 1968.  After their marriage they lived in San Diego during Donald’s Navy service, where the first of their children, Donald Jr., was born.   Donald and Rosemary went on to have three more children; Elizabeth, Janna, and Bradley.

He served his country in the US Navy from 1967-1973 during the Vietnam war where he was an Aviation Structural Mechanic spending time on the USS Kitty Hawk.  While stationed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, he was an Aviation instructor for new recruits both at Miramar and a remote training center in Arizona.  Donald was also a successful Navy Recruiter until 1972.  After being Honorably Discharged from the Navy he opened Eide Brother’s Truck and Heavy Equipment Repair shop from 1972-1974.  Upon moving to eastern Washington, he started his career at N-Reactor on the Hanford site and continued to work on projects there until his retirement.

He later met and married G. Christine Eide, on October 12, 1989 after which the family moved to Richland WA.

Donald was a devoted husband, loyal and loving, taking pride in his family and friends. He was a privately devout member of the Catholic Church and believed in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. To be loved by him felt like one of his hugs, protective, rewarding and fierce in a pick you off your feet kind of way. Along with his charming smile, he was best known for his membership and service in a number of organizations, particularly Toastmaster’s, Ducks Unlimited, and also Gold Wing Road Riders Association where he was both a member and an Instructor. He was an avid golfer and a long-term member of the Canyon Lakes Golf Club, reaching the pinnacle achievement of multiple hole-in-one’s.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Orville Junior Eide and Naomi Ann (Pischke) Eide, his brothers, Terry Eide, Darrel Eide, and Orville K Eide.

Donald is survived by his wife of 33 years, Gail Christine Eide. His children Donald Eide Jr of California, Elizabeth (Tim) Whiteman of California, Janna Toth of Clarkston, Banyan (Vera) Eide of Mexico, and Russell (Nicole) Einan of Pasco. He is also survived by 13 Grandchildren, 2 Great Grandchildren, and his Siblings, David (Christine) Eide of Enumclaw, Jim (Christine) Eide of Ohio, and Ann Eide of Alaska.