Elkhart - Donald L. Hart, 91, passed away at his home on April 22, 2020, surrounded by the love of his family.

He was born Nov. 26, 1928, in Anaheim, California, as the youngest of three children to Cleo and Evelyn (Swank) Hart.  Growing up in nearby Fullerton, Don enjoyed his youth playing in the orange and walnut groves in the foothills by his home until the age of 14. His parents then moved the family back to Elkhart.

He married Jerrie Beghtel on Feb. 28, 1946.  Don gave up his senior year in high school to join the Army as he turned 17, and while on furlough after basic training came home to marry Jerrie the day before going back.  After returning, he was trained for the military police and shipped to Europe to spend 18 months in France, Germany and Belgium after the war.

Jerrie passed away in 2007.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded by two sisters; Tannie (Gene) Guy and Evelyn (Sam) Myers.

He is survived by his sons, Jon (Connie) Hart and Steve (Vicki) Hart, and his daughter Jeri (Doug) Lenaburg.   Also, his six grandchildren:  Adam Hart and Lori Hart Diver,  Austin and Matthew Hart, Emily and Molly Lenaburg.  He was blessed to have nine great grandchildren as part of his life too.

As a teenager, his interest in becoming a boxer led him to training and amateur bouts in the Midwest, but after the service as he started his family and career, he focused on weight lifting and body building.  He had a natural talent in drawing, painting, and calligraphy and a desire to go to art school, but that helped lead him to a successful life in the mobile home industry instead.

Don started in the factory at Richardson Mobile Homes before being brought into the advertising dept because of his artistic talents.  He then worked in sales, eventually becoming sales manager before leaving in 1959 to join Elcona Homes as VP of Sales.  Then in 1962 he became a founding partner and president of Monarch Industries in Middlebury.  Monarch grew with their success to manufacture mobile homes under nameplates Monarch, Regent, Cambridge, and Fawn, plus ownership of Coppes Kitchens in Nappanee.  After 14 years, Don left Monarch in 1976 and acquired a small fledgling division from them producing  jobsite trailers in Nappanee, Commercial Structures.  Five years later he sold the company and retired at the age of 52, ending his work during the golden years of the mobile home industry in the 50's, 60's, and early 70's.

His years after retirement were spent enjoying being grandpa, along with taking care of his 100 acre farm in Lagrange.  Don loved the log cabin he had built with his sons, and he appreciated the nature and beauty of the land and the Amish communities.  His effort had landscaped much of the farm to a park like setting for the family to enjoy, and he leaves his family with a lifetime of treasured memories of walks back to the cabin and holidays at the farmhouse.

He was a loving, generous, and dedicated father, grandfather and great grandfather who will be remembered for his quiet, reserved nature; a bit stoic, but with a compassionate and empathetic heart.  Also, for his thoughtful intelligence as a planner and strategist, whether it was a business decision or a building project.  He was forever health conscious and those in his neighborhood will remember his years of regular walks down East Jackson Blvd, always at a brisk pace.  His motto was: I like the fit of my clothes more than the taste of food.  And, having a love for nice clothing, Don was always known for being a handsome and sharp dressed man.  Big band sounds from the forties were his favorite music, but he did love a good Irish tenor too.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart, with special thanks given to Don's attending nurse, Kim Skinner.  Her guidance and compassion was deeply appreciated and invaluable as part of the family's journey as caregivers.  In addition, much gratitude is expressed for the wonderful CNAs from Senior 1 Care: Andrea, Lisa, Marivic, and Tonya.  They were a blessing for the work they do and in their care for Don.

Memorial donations should be directed to the Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka IN.

A graveside service will be held at Rice Cemetery at a later date for family and close friends with cremation and arrangements entrusted to Billings Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be made by visiting their website at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.

For My Father 11-26-1928 to 04-22-2020 This is the story of a Son and his Father, on a journey. An end of life journey as it turns out. It didn't start that way, but we don't always end up were we think we're going. We have been on our journey for a little over a year now and in that time we have walked down some small hills and climbed up what seems, a few more Mountains. Like all walks, we may turn left or right but most of the time we follow the path that others have traveled before us. If you're lucky as I have been and if you're listening as you walk you will hear stories and share some memories, Memories locked away for a lifetime, like pieces of treasure, safe until such time that it feels right to share them with others.. As we started our journey I was sure I could walk however far it might be, but as we walked and climbed I began to question my resolve and wasn't sure I could actually make it to the end along side him. But as Fathers and Sons will do, he pushed me when I needed pushing and I pulled him when he needed pulling and in doing so we have almost reached the end of our journey. Whatever strength we had we left on the path to get this far. Now, lying on his bed, resting from our journey ,the strongest man I know is now so Fragile, So Vulnerable, He needs me now like no one has ever needed me before. There is an intimacy now. A bond forged of blood and tears and a lifetime of memories that I will carry in my Heart forever. Sitting in my Fathers Bedroom, the afternoon sun is coming thru the window shade filling the room with a warm glow. It feels good, safe, inviting. Outside his window with a masters brush Nature is painting the colors of the season. It's spring ! A time when all things old are reborn to live again. Outside the window I can hear birds singing, lawns being mowed, people doing the things that people do. It's a world moving on, leaving him behind. The only sound in the room is the sound of breathing, Fast, Slow, Hard, Soft, but always there. Even though things are as they should be, it makes me sad. Sad for me, for him, and for all whose lives he has touched in one way or another. As I walk around his house and sit in his room, I see things for the first time. They've always been here, I've even seen them before. But now they seem significant somehow. A company pen from an old job from long ago, an item in the junk drawer, his coffee mug, his razor, a paper or a picture stuffed in a cabinet drawer long ago. They are just things, but they are his things.Things he saved for whatever reason. They were significant or not to him and I guess now for me. I sit here waiting, wanting him to move on. It seems strange, yet natural somehow. He has done all he can do in this life and there is nothing left for him here. There is silence except for his breathing, There is nothing left to be said that needs saying except I love you dad ,I'm here for you and you are not alone. Yet somehow it doesn't seem to be enough, but I suppose it never does. Our journey together ended today. The room is silent now. He has finally moved on without me. Everything is as it should be. While I am very sad I am happy for him, as I told him I would be. His pain and suffering has been laid at the foot of the cross. He has been made whole again. He can now see the colors of spring outside his window as clearly as I. After all it is spring, the season when all things old are reborn to live again. Along the way we have met some very special people, people that I now believe where sent to us by God .There is no other explanation. They are his Living Angels on earth. Always knowing what we needed before we knew ourselves. I have been witness to compassion for others on a level that could only have come from above. I am both humbled and honored that my Father allowed me to walk beside him on his journey. I will miss him and think of him often and he will be apart of everything I do until the day that we are together again. Your loving Son, Steve

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