John Donati

Haines, 1933-2019

John R. Donati, 85, died peacefully on Oct. 24, 2019, at his ranch in Haines.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Nov. 6 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Sparks, Nevada, followed by a luncheon and then burial at Mountain View Cemetery in Reno, Nevada. Walton’s Sparks Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

John was a lifelong resident of Sparks. He was born on Nov. 3, 1933, to Guido and Rena (Casci) Donati at Sparks. He was a Sparks High School graduate and served in the U.S. Army.

He married Naomi Field in 1953 and they celebrated 56 years of marriage before her passing in 2009. John opened Vista Equipment in Sparks in 1969. He worked hard for 30 years building the business.

He enjoyed his work and considered many of his customers his best friends and treated them as family. In 1998 he and Naomi retired to a life of ranching and hunting in Eastern Oregon. He loved the ranch and was still driving his tractor and carrying a shovel just weeks before his passing.

John is survived by his son, Jerry (Rene) Donati; his daughter, Raffael (Bob) Wilson; his grandchildren, Jessica Donati, Zachari (Michelle) Donati, Ryan Wilson, Cheyenne Donati and Gabe Wilson; and his great-grandchildren, Samual and Jeremiah Keyser, Nathan, Christian, Bella and Liam Donati.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Guido and Rena Donati; his wife, Naomi Donati; his sister, Elsie (Barney) Martini; his daughter, Lisa Brockway; and his granddaughter, Genny Keyser.

The family expressed special thanks to Heart ’N Home Hospice of Baker City and the Homestead Church of La Grande.