Donald A. "Don" Hart Sr.

Donald "Don" A. Hart Sr., 82, of Lanark, Illinois, passed away on September 15, 2025 surrounded by his loved ones. As family wishes, Don chose donation to medical science and there will be no services. The family encourages you to donate in Don's memory to a local charity. He was born on September 22, 1942, in rural Milledgeville, Illinois, the son of Jacob and Pearl (Bardell) Hart. From an early age, Don loved the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, trapping, and building things with his hands. While school was never his forte, he loved learning how things "worked." Little did Don know when he began working in a small automotive shop in the early 60's it would lead to becoming a thriving entrepreneur. Between repairing autos from minor collisions to complete rebuilds he earned his nickname "Bondo," and became well known at "Hot Rod" clubs across Central California. He created a business replacing windshields and windows, also known as glazing; there was little he could not fix, restore, or reimagine. While growing his business, Don also grew his family with five children. He later married the love of his life, Cathy, on January 1, 1980 at South Lake Tahoe, California. He was a firm, focused, and loving father and grandfather who worked hard to provide for his family. Some of his happiest times were spent taking them fishing and camping and teaching them how to work with their hands-lessons that extended far beyond tools and repair. In the mid-1990s, Don and Cathy moved from Salinas, California, to Lanark, Illinois, where they opened Don Hart's Automotive and managed several rental properties with his wife. Don quickly became a well-known member of the Lanark community. He served in the Lion's Club, including a term as president, and gave his time to HITT, Workation, the Lanark Farmer's Market, Brethren Disaster Ministries, and Camp Emmaus. Helping others came naturally to Don, and as his faith deepened, his compassion became even more Christ-centered. He was a devoted member of Cherry Grove Church of the Brethren, where he found strength, purpose, and community. Don deeply loved his wife, Cathy, and together they shared 45 years of marriage. His devotion also extended to his mother, Pearl, and his siblings, with whom he stayed closely connected throughout his life. Don will be remembered for his resourcefulness, his love for the outdoors, and his ability to fix just about anything. More than that, he will be remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend who gave of himself generously and loved deeply. He is survived by his wife, Cathy; his children, Kelly Hart O'Neal (Jerome Kaufman) of Gladstone, OR, Donald Hart, Jr. of Portland, OR, Angela Hart Marshall (Jay Marshall) of Austin, TX and Karyn Hart of Elk City, ID, 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; his sister, Wendy Klein; and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his son, Monty Hart; parents, Jacob and Pearl; siblings, Louise Klooster, Conrad Hart, and Pamela Whisker.