Donna Marie (Wiechmann) Swirczynski was born in Sauk Centre, MN on Wednesday, June 9, 1954 to Walter Joseph and Helen (Mareck) Wiechmann. Donna was the third of six children and grew up loving music, literature, and art. After graduation from Sauk Centre High School, she began her long love affair with nursing as a nurse’s aide at Melrose Hospital in Melrose, MN.
At the age of 19, Donna started her adventure, moving to California with a short time spent in Japan. She continued to work as a nurse’s aide. When she was not working, she visited the many natural and historical sites in the areas she lived.
In 1979, Donna moved to Casper, WY where she furthered her nursing education, earning an Associate in Nursing degree from Casper College and became a Registered Nurse (RN). Casper was also where she met her husband of 38 years. Donna married Paul Paris Swirczynski on Friday, November 23, 1984 in Boise, ID. Donna and Paul have been residents of Boise since 1985.
In Boise, Donna joined the nursing staff at Saint Luke’s Hospital where she retired as a clinical nurse specialist working in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). She advanced her education earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Boise State University and was inducted into the Honorary Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International – MU Gamma Chapter. She actively sought ways to improve practices used in the NICU becoming a co-investigator of “The Physiological Effects of Sound on the Infant in the NICU”. With the group, she collected data, analyzed results and presented them at conferences of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses.
She continued her education, earning a Master of Science in Clinical Nursing from the University of Missouri and a certification from the AACN (American Association of Critical-Care Nursing) in Acute Care – Pediatrics (ACCNS-P.)
In her free time, she organized two book clubs and was a perennial member of “Shakespeare in the Park.” She loved to tend to her flowers, especially her roses. She quenched her love of nature by cross country skiing on trails in the local mountains or driving through back country roads. For adventure, she stretched her comfort zone by learning to Kayak through white water rapids, skiing up to yurts for long weekends, and backpacking in the sawtooth wilderness with her brother. She also travelled with her family and friends to Germany, Machu Picchu, the Galapagos, Italy, and Antarctica (where she took a true polar plunge!)
Donna passed away in her home on Wednesday, November 24th at 8:30PM surrounded by her family. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Donna’s name to St. Luke’s NICU. https://www.stlukesonline.org/about-st-lukes/donate-or-volunteer/make-an-online-donation
A memorial service will be held, 2:00 pm, Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at Bowman Funeral Parlor, 10254 W. Carlton Bay Dr. Garden City, Idaho.
To watch the memorial service, please visit: https://vimeo.com/654695214
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Larry & Ming Shaw says
November 30, 2021 at 11:34 amDonna will forever live in our hearts. We had so much fun thru the years enjoying holiday feasts and wonderful ski trips together. Donna was always fun to be around and she brought out the best in people. Paul, we are thinking of you in this time of loss.
ROXANNE WASSON says
December 1, 2021 at 9:49 amThis photo is SO! Donna to me. That is what I will always remember – her laugh. You always knew when Donna was delighted or amused. I am glad that I shared so many years with her in NICU. She was very caring and an inspiration.
Catherine Peterson says
December 2, 2021 at 7:47 pmI’m so saddened to hear of Donna’s passing. She was always full of life o worked my career alongside Donna and had the utmost respect for her. She was a great colleague and friend. I will always remember many shifts working alongside Donna. She had a great sense of humor and a wonderful laugh. I will miss her and pray for her family at her loss.
Deede McKendree says
December 6, 2021 at 1:35 pmJim and I are truly sorry to hear of Donna’s passing. She was always a very bright spot in this world and will be missed by all that knew her. We are sending heartfelt condolences to Paul and her family.
Cindi Faith Bennett says
December 7, 2021 at 5:42 amWhat an amazing friend and nurse mentor Donna was. She hired me to develop the lactation program in the NICU. She mentored me, challenged me to be the best and focus on (research and evidenced based practice). She helped mold me to become the nurse I am today. I was honored to work with her on many projects focusing on breastfeeding and human milk feeding for the NICU population. I could share so many stories of the many accomplishments Donna oversaw at St. Luke’s which forever changed the care model for the NICU population. In 2011 or 2012, Donna was instrumental in navigating and working with the medical team (medical director) to get donor milk available for the unit which was best practice in other hospitals. She did not back down once she focused on the research. Due to circumstances with micro twins who were not doing well with formula feedings she tackled the conversation again with the medical director. She ordered the first batch of donor milk from San Jose Milk Bank, the director paid for it with his credit card and the rest is history. Human donor milk is available at all the St. Luke’s hospitals, and this happened due to Donna’s tunnel vision “best practice of care”. She developed the nutrition center as well. I enjoyed moments in her office discussing books, Shakespeare Festival, traveling and family. She will be so missed; my thoughts and prayers are with Paul and her family.