Dona M. L'Heureux

Dona M. L'Heureux, 95, of Topeka passed away on July 5, 2025.   Dona was born in Bertrand, Nebraska on August 11, 1929 to Victor and Vernal Peterson. She married Joseph (Papa Joe) L’Heureux on June 15, 1958 in Lincoln Nebraska. They moved to a farm in Glenville, Nebraska where they raised hogs and farmed for around 5 years. In those early years, Dona had all kinds of pets including black birds, ducks, dogs and a pig named Mable. Mable was her favorite pet though, and when she had a litter of piglets, Dona came in the house and said she was grandma to 15 little piglets and was overjoyed to bring the piglets inside to play with them.

One day Dona and Papa Joe decided farming was no longer for them. They sold the farm, packed up and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. They were undecided on what they wanted to pursue, so they wrote different options on pieces of paper and then drew one out of a bowl. The paper said go to beauty school, so off Dona went while Joe worked in a butcher shop to support the family. Once Dona received her cosmetology license, Joe then attended beauty school and obtained his license as well. They eventually purchased Reece & Sybil School of Hairstyling in Lincoln, Nebraska. Dona and Joe went on to purchase two more beauty schools, one in San Jose, California and the other in Topeka, Kansas. In addition to the three beauty schools, they also purchased six beauty shops in Lincoln and Hastings Nebraska as well as Topeka Kansas. Dona and Joe worked hard and long hours to ensure the success of all their businesses with the assistance of Bob Helm, their CPA who Dona grew fond of and considered like a son. Their only daughter Lazon was also brought into the family businesses and followed in their footsteps as a licensed cosmetologist. To aid in traveling amongst their businesses, Dona and Joe purchased a 34-foot motor home. They created many wonderful memories traveling the country in their “bus”, they saw a lot of amazing scenery, had a lot of fun, and met wonderful friends. When traveling became too much for them, Dona and Joe sold all the beauty schools and shops, but their entrepreneurial drive would not allow them to sit idle long and they purchased Caravan Mobile Home Park in Topeka Kansas and managed many rentals during their tenure as owners. Joe passed away in 1992, but Dona continued running the business until 2005 when she finally decided to retire.

Dona was proceeded in death by her parents (Victor and Vernal), two brothers (Leonard and Gene), her husband Joseph, and a great-grandson Michael Stava-Creek. She is survived by her daughter, Lazon Sommer; grandson, Earl Pinkston Jr (Becky); granddaughter Tina Lonnis (John); granddaughter Ronda Kraus (Leroy); seven great-grandchildren Jessie (Carrie), Earl III (Elizabeth), Tami (Montana), Coltyn, Courtney (Brandon), Ashton (Megan), Kymberly; fourteen great-great grandchildren; one great-great-great granddaughter and several nieces and nephews. Dona will be missed by all family and friends alike.

On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am the family will receive friends at Parker-Price and Davidson Cremations and Funerals, 245 NW Independence, Topeka, Kansas 66608.  Funeral services will be follow being at 11:00 am at Parker-Price and Davidson. Interment will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery.