Donna Mae Green

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Apple Valley Animal Shelter or the Victorville Salvation Army are appreciated. Thank you.

Donna Mae Green passed away peacefully on June 28, 2025, at the age of 95. She will be dearly missed. She is survived by three of her children and their spouses, Carolyn, Danny, and Nancy and her step daughter Catherine, her 8 grandchildren and their spouses, Jeremy, Michael, Kelly, Adam, Eric, Kristin, Lindsey, Meredith, her 15 great grandchildren, Ashlynn, Jolie, Autumn, Samantha, Seth, Shay, Jacob, Justin, Hunter, Madison, Makena, Collins, and Lincoln, Cole, Hunter, and one great-great grandchild Holland. She is preceded in death by her husband Lester Hankla, her son Jerry Hankla, her grandson Wayne Hankla, and her second husband Marvin Green.

Born on September 21, 1929, near Brunswick, Nebraska, she was the youngest of 7 children, with two brothers, and four sisters. She was born at home and was raised on the family farm.

Donna went to a two-room country school to 10th grade. She attended business school for 11th and 12th grades and graduated in 1946 at age 16. She was hired by the County Treasurer’s Office in Neligh, Nebraska, where she, in her words “calculated and collected real estate taxes and other clerical duties.”

In 1948, Donna married Lester Hankla. They moved to California briefly, then moved back to Nebraska where they had their first 3 children, Carolyn, Jerry, and Danny. In 1954, the family came back to California and settled in Chino, California, where Lester got a job as a mechanic for the Chrysler Auto Dealership. They had their fourth child, Nancy, in 1955. After a few years Lester opened Les’ Auto Service in Chino.

Donna was a stay-at-home mom for her four children, and a bookkeeper for Lester’s business. As a mom she was active in P.T.A., treasurer for Pony League Baseball, and contributed to Girl Scout banquets.

In Spring 1971, she and Lester, with daughter Nancy, moved to Kernville, California where they owned and operated Kern River Motel. Sadly, Lester passed away in December 1971. Donna was 41 years old. She hired a manager to help her but in time sold the business and house and moved back to Chino to be closer to her kids. To support herself and Nancy, she worked as a full-time bookkeeper for Thompson Plating Company and worked part-time as a real estate agent. In 1975, she bought her house in Chino.

Donna met her second husband, Marvin Green, through friends in Pomona near where she worked. In 1977, they married and moved to Marvins’s house in Upland, California. She kept her house in Chino as a rental. In 1979, Donna earned her Real Estate Broker’s license and established Green Realty. Marvin worked as a Senior Engineer for General Dynamics. During these working years they bought a lot in Apple Valley, California, to eventually build a home for their retirement years. They designed the home, had it built, and moved to the new house in April 1986. Marvin retired in July 1986. Donna continued in real estate for a few more years. Donna was 56 years old when she moved to Apple Valley.

Donna and Marvin took many trips through their retirement years. They traveled to many places in the U.S. and Canada. They liked to drive so they saw a lot of places in between the major destinations. They traveled to Alaska and Hawaii. In 1989 they were gone for seven weeks visiting Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. Donna organized and arranged it all, no tour groups, and before computers.

Marvin passed away in 2012. Donna was 82. She joined a grief group and attended each week. Within this group she made new friends and helped new people who came to the group. This involvement gave her a “new life” and she was content. When the Pandemic stopped the group meetings, Donna was 90 years old. She continued having nice times with her family on short trips and gatherings, and friends who visited at her home.

In 2023 she moved to Sterling Inn Assisted Living where she enjoyed two years in a very nice apartment. She loved the food there! Visits from family and friends were always welcomed by her.

Donna will always be remembered and missed. She was amazing in her ability to remember everyone’s birthdays and send a card, and for Christmas to buy everyone a gift, her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids-everybody got a present! She wrote cards to her extended family and friends too. She was truly amazing in her dedication to her family and wanting to stay in touch with everyone.

We will always remember her smile, her wonderful light-hearted laugh, and her warm caring heart. She loved her family and friends very much.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Apple Valley Animal Shelter or the Victorville Salvation Army are appreciated. Thank you.