Donna Havnaer

Donna Marie Havnaer, 99 years old and a resident of the Yakima Valley since the early 1920s, died Saturday, December 16th, 2017 of complications from a stroke. Donna was born on July 6th, 1918 in Spokane to Edith Kilbury and Vladimir Tesarik. After graduating from Yakima Business College, Donna worked as a secretary in the Yakima County auditor’s office. She married Calvin Havnaer on July 1, 1939 and together they operated Havnaer Brothers orchards and warehouse in Selah in partnership with Calvin’s brother, Robert Havnaer, of Tieton. In addition to her involvement in the business, Donna was a devoted mother to her four children: Myrna, Rita, Holly, and Doug, who all attended school in Selah. After forty years, Donna and Calvin sold the Selah apple orchard and relocated to Yakima in 1979. They stayed active in the lives of their children and ten grandchildren, whom Donna referred to as her “best friends”. One of Donna’s defining characteristics was her deep and constant concern for the wellbeing of those in her family, church, and community. She provided support and company to friends and acquaintances staying in hospitals and nursing homes. She delivered groceries for the nutrition programs and homeless shelter at Englewood Christian Church. She loved to volunteer at the Southeast Community Center food bank, and was involved in preparing Christmas boxes for families in need. She read to children and did other volunteer work at Gilbert Elementary School and Hoover Elementary School. She tutored ESL students in the Yakima Valley College literacy-reading program. She served as a Deacon in her church for many years and was a person of conscience in her support for the inclusion of LGBTQ people in the church community. Even at age 79, she purchased a six-passenger car to facilitate her driving the “old ladies” (her words) to church, doctor’s appointments, grocery stores and the senior center. Although she was forever humble about the positive impact she had on those around her, her life found its fullest expression in service to others. Donna was predeceased by her husband Calvin in 1987; her sister, Doris Millman, in 1990; great grandchild Forest Prediletto in 2004. Donna is survived by four children: Myrna Hall (Charles Hall) of Polson, MT; Rita Kinder of Yakima, Holly Havnaer of Seattle, and Doug Havnaer (Adriana Schilperoort) of New Paltz, NY; ten grandchildren: Cara Prediletto of Seattle, Andy Prediletto of Los Angeles, CA, Tyler Kinder (Peter Blackstock) of New York, NY, Jenny Kinder of New York, NY, Emily Kusak of Seattle, Lara Kusak of Seattle, Ben Kusak (Keisha Neff) of Seattle, Helen Marie Havnaer (Gabriel Gedler) of Portland, OR, Calvin Havnaer of New Paltz, NY, and Annika Havnaer of Providence, RI; and four great grandchildren: Sky, Hunter, Willow and Slate Prediletto, all of Los Angeles, CA. A service of remembrance is planned for April. Memorial contributions in Donna’s memory may be made to Northwest Harvest, PO Box 297, Yakima, WA. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donna Havnaer, please visit our flower store.