Donald M Hare Sr.

Donald Hare was born in North Dakota on March 29, 1929 to Bertha Stevens and Manwood Hare. He grew up with his sister Elearnor in Cooperstown, ND on a wheat farm. He remembers driving his grandparents to town at the age of 12, (they didn’t drive) and all the kids in his small school were his cousins. The family later moved to Washington State.

In 1945, at the age of 16, with special permission from his parents, he joined the AirForce. Due to poor eyesight, he could not train to be a pilot, so he became an aircraft mechanic. He was shipped out to Japan in 1946 and there he remained during his military career.

In 1953 Don moved to California. While attending a dance in Santa Cruz at the Coconut Grove he met Sally Ann Rodriguez. They got married on October 22, 1954. Sally also had two sons, Russell and John Bridges, which became part of their family. On June 22, 1955, they added Donald Jr. to the family.

Don worked for United Airlines and became a lead radio electrician. During his life he learned many skills. A few accomplishments have been flying his small craft, building a cabin, fixing cars and if he didn’t know how to do something he would learn how.

He and Sally traveled widely and also enjoyed their motor home, taking along their various dogs. He loved working with his son Donald Jr. They were great buddies. Don was a modest, unassuming, and kind man.

A visitation for Donald will be held Friday, October 17, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary, 466 North Winchester Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050.

A memorial reception will be held on October 18, 2025 at Palermo’s Restaurant at 791 Auzerais Ave, San Jose, CA 95126 at 2pm.