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Obituary: Donna Rae (Whitacre) Fuller

May 24, 1938 ~ January 31, 2022

Donna Rae Fuller, 83, of Sturgeon Bay, died Monday morning, January 31, 2022 at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay.

She was born May 24, 1938 in Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Ray and Bessie Lorraine (Thompson) Whitacre. Donna attended Uniontown High School and graduated with the class of 1956. She met Dale Dwight Fuller while in high school (attending different area high schools), and they were united in marriage on July 14, 1956 in Flatwoods, PA. Dale served in the United States Coast Guard and was transferred to Door County, WI during the winter of 1968. They initially lived in Valmy, in the Town of Sevastopol, before moving to the Town of Sturgeon Bay where they lived and raised their family.

Donna worked as a salesclerk in Sturgeon Bay, initially for McClellan’s in the 1980s and then for Woolworth’s until its closing in 1991. Her primary care was devoted to her family and home.

Over the years, Donna and Dale attended First Baptist Church and then Peninsula Baptist Church, both in Sturgeon Bay. Their faith provided a foundation for their life and that of their family. Donna and Dale were blessed with nearly 53 years of marriage. Dale passed away May 30, 2009. Donna was currently a member of Calvary Baptist Fellowship in Sturgeon Bay.

She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As a sports fan, Donna could always be spotted in the stands or in the bleachers cheering on her children and grandchildren at their sporting events. She also liked attending area horse shows. Donna enjoyed traveling with Dale and family to Florida and enjoyed visiting Myrtle Beach, the Kennedy Space Center (NASA), Louisiana, the INDY 500, and the “Gateway to the West” (St. Louis, MO), just to name a few places. She always looked forward to celebrating Christmas (one of her favorite holidays) with her family.

Donna’s love will live on in the hearts of her children, Rachel (Rick) Sternard, Dale (Bobbie) Fuller, Jr., both of the Town of Sturgeon Bay, and Raymond (friend, Patti Jennerjohn) Fuller of Sturgeon Bay; grandchildren, Ricky Jr. “RJ” (Crystal), Ryan (Amanda), Rilee (Cory Rein) Sternard, Jason (Alexis), Cory (Flora), and Cam (Kaylee) Fuller, and Lance (Kayla) Jennerjohn; great-grandchildren, Hailee, Jayden, Lydia, Lorin, Connor, and Robert, Quinten, Onyx, and Kaylie, Dylen and Lincoln, Genevieve and Pierre, and Blake; three siblings, Lucy Hall of Washington, PA, Ray (Joyce) Whitacre of Dunbar, PA, and Mark (Nancy) Whitacre of Vanderbilt, PA; brother-in-law, Jim (Babe) Fuller; other relatives; and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dale Fuller, Sr.; infant son; siblings-in-law, George Hall, Earl (Betty) Fuller, Blanche (Delbert) Fields, and Wayne (Marie) Fuller; and other relatives.

Donna’s life will be honored with a memorial service held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at Calvary Baptist Fellowship, 915 Egg Harbor Rd., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 with Pastor Jerry Marsden officiating. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Memorials may be given in her name for Calvary Baptist Fellowship (P.O. Box 714, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235) or First Baptist Church (610 N. 5th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay).

“Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Door County Medical Center and Unity Hospice for the wonderful, compassionate care given to our mother.”

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC in Sturgeon Bay are assisting the Fuller family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Donna may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.