In Memory
George W. Donat
Apr. 25, 1940 - Dec. 31, 2023
George W. Donat, 83, died Sunday, December 31, 2023, at Esther's House in Elkhart. He was born April 25, 1940, in South Bend to Raymond and Dorothy (Hoffman) Donat. His parents died when he was young, and he was raised by his maternal grandparents, George and Bertha Hoffman.
George married Edith "Edie" (Boomsma) Gray on August 17, 1984, in Goshen. She survives along with a son, Jeffrey (Lisa) Donat of Elk River, Minnesota; and daughters Shanna Donat of Sullivan, and Susan Gray of Holland, Michigan; 12 grandchildren: Epiphany Donat of Cross Lake, MN, Mathias Donat of Saline, MI, Josiah (Greta) Donat of Minneapolis, MN, Michaela (Vaughn) Jundt of Brainerd, Avalon and Acacia Donat of Kirkland, WA; Ellis and Cooper Donat of Elk River, Levi Donat of Saline. Also, Zachary and Gabriel (Julie) Nemecek and Solomon Gray of Holland; 3 great-grandchildren; and the mother of his children Terry Goodman of Tennyson, IN, sister-in-law Pat Donat of Edwardsburg, Michigan, and his brother Ronald's first wife Frances VanLake of Largo, Florida, who is the mother of George's two nephews, Brad (Greta) of Franklin, TN and Robert (Jerry) Donat of Largo, FL
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Ronald Donat.
Mr. Donat worked many years for Big C Lumber in contractor sales, and previously managed Bill's Lumber in Elkhart. George previously served as a deacon at Greene Road Church. He enjoyed fishing, pheasant hunting, golfing and woodworking. George loved playing the harmonica and was a very talented ballroom dancer. He served in the United States Army from 1959-1962 as the guidance technician of the Nike Hercules Nuclear Missiles and as Military Police in Okinawa. He was the sharpshooter of his entire Battalion.
Visitation will take place on Friday, January 5, 2024, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, from 6-8 p.m., and one hour prior to the 11 a.m. memorial service, which will take place on January 6, at Greene Road Church. Pastor Rick Pickney will officiate.
Cremation will take place at Yoder-Culp Crematory and a burial will occur at a later date at Fort Custer National Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Greene Road Church.
Published in the South Bend Tribune on January 2, 2024.
02/13/2024 DEC
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