1927
Donna
2021
Donna Khaler
July 21, 1927 — May 6, 2021
Donna Mae Heal Khaler
July 21, 1927 – May 6, 2021
Donna Mae Heal Khaler was granted her angel wings on May 6, 2021. Her final days were spent surrounded by family...and lots of friends that Donna, for years had touched in some small way.
She was born to Rachael and Arthur Heal on July 21, 1927 in Waukegan, Illinois. She had two brothers her eldest Thomas Edmond (killed in WWII) and her younger brother Arthur Richard (2009)
In support of the war effort, she worked at Great Lakes Naval Base in the BX and was a Red Cross volunteer. She met her husband to be Robert Bramley Khaler on a double-blind date while he was stationed at GLNB. Together, they had 4 children: Thomas L., Michael R., Robert M., and Heather M.
In 1958 with two of those kids in hand she and Bob moved to Phoenix, AZ to begin a new life in The Valley of the Sun. She and Bob raised the first chapter of their family; until 18 years later when Robert Milton was born...2 years later came the arrival of Heather Michelle.
Donna Mae has 4 children, 8 grands, 5 great grands.
Donna belonged to several lady’s church groups and was a Lady of the Shrine (Shriners). She donated endless hours for years to numerous charitable organizations.
She loved music of all kinds from the 30’s and 40’s era right up to today’s Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. She particularly liked the Gatlin Brothers Gospel album. She played organ, ice skated, and roller skated with her brother Dick.
Donna enjoyed spending time in the kitchen, creating delicious meals for her family. (She could make something amazing from nothing!) She liked to paint in oil, water and acrylic and there wasn’t anything she couldn’t sew, knit or crochet. She created gowns, stage garments, skating outfits, baby clothes, shirts, pants, jackets. She knitted scarves, blankets, and crochet everything imaginable for numerous generations. Most of all she enjoyed participating in or watching everything her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren did.
She taught Thom and Mike how to ice skate on a frozen tennis court in Upton Park. She and Bob were in a bowling league and “tried” to teach all four kids how to bowl.
Donna attended every one of Heather’s skating competitions...no matter where they took place. If she wasn’t watching Rob and Chris with an eagle eye making sure they didn’t hurt themselves, Marilyn Hoffarth had The Watch.
There is a saying that “God didn’t give us a manual... He gave us our Mom”
She loved God, her children, grand and great-grandchildren, as well as all her extended Arizona and California families. Our mother met hundreds if not a thousand people and never had a harsh word for anyone...but she was as strong as could be in life.
When the Lord came to ask her to join Him...she smiled took His hand and left her suffering behind.
A family members funeral service is scheduled for 9:00 AM on June 18, 2021 at the National Cemetery where she will be interred with her husband. A Celebration of Life will be held in Thousand Oaks, California on June 5th and in Phoenix, Arizona on June 18th following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Shriners Children’s Hospital.
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To send flowers to the family of Donna Mae Khaler, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
July 21, 1927 – May 6, 2021
Donna Mae Heal Khaler was granted her angel wings on May 6, 2021. Her final days were spent surrounded by family...and lots of friends that Donna, for years had touched in some small way.
She was born to Rachael and Arthur Heal on July 21, 1927 in Waukegan, Illinois. She had two brothers her eldest Thomas Edmond (killed in WWII) and her younger brother Arthur Richard (2009)
In support of the war effort, she worked at Great Lakes Naval Base in the BX and was a Red Cross volunteer. She met her husband to be Robert Bramley Khaler on a double-blind date while he was stationed at GLNB. Together, they had 4 children: Thomas L., Michael R., Robert M., and Heather M.
In 1958 with two of those kids in hand she and Bob moved to Phoenix, AZ to begin a new life in The Valley of the Sun. She and Bob raised the first chapter of their family; until 18 years later when Robert Milton was born...2 years later came the arrival of Heather Michelle.
Donna Mae has 4 children, 8 grands, 5 great grands.
Donna belonged to several lady’s church groups and was a Lady of the Shrine (Shriners). She donated endless hours for years to numerous charitable organizations.
She loved music of all kinds from the 30’s and 40’s era right up to today’s Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. She particularly liked the Gatlin Brothers Gospel album. She played organ, ice skated, and roller skated with her brother Dick.
Donna enjoyed spending time in the kitchen, creating delicious meals for her family. (She could make something amazing from nothing!) She liked to paint in oil, water and acrylic and there wasn’t anything she couldn’t sew, knit or crochet. She created gowns, stage garments, skating outfits, baby clothes, shirts, pants, jackets. She knitted scarves, blankets, and crochet everything imaginable for numerous generations. Most of all she enjoyed participating in or watching everything her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren did.
She taught Thom and Mike how to ice skate on a frozen tennis court in Upton Park. She and Bob were in a bowling league and “tried” to teach all four kids how to bowl.
Donna attended every one of Heather’s skating competitions...no matter where they took place. If she wasn’t watching Rob and Chris with an eagle eye making sure they didn’t hurt themselves, Marilyn Hoffarth had The Watch.
There is a saying that “God didn’t give us a manual... He gave us our Mom”
She loved God, her children, grand and great-grandchildren, as well as all her extended Arizona and California families. Our mother met hundreds if not a thousand people and never had a harsh word for anyone...but she was as strong as could be in life.
When the Lord came to ask her to join Him...she smiled took His hand and left her suffering behind.
A family members funeral service is scheduled for 9:00 AM on June 18, 2021 at the National Cemetery where she will be interred with her husband. A Celebration of Life will be held in Thousand Oaks, California on June 5th and in Phoenix, Arizona on June 18th following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Shriners Children’s Hospital.
.
To send flowers to the family of Donna Mae Khaler, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donna Khaler, please visit our flower store.
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