Donald Heikes, Lenora
March 21, 1936 - October 10, 2023
Donald “Don” Heikes, 87, Lenora, Kansas, died October 10, 2023, in Salina, Kansas with family by his side. He was born April 21, 1936, in Norton, Kansas to Lamoine “Dick” Heikes and Opal (Pratt) Heikes.
Growing up on the family farm, Don worked hard and always made sure the chores were done before heading to school. It was a time-consuming endeavor of wrangling cattle, pigs, psycho chickens and two baby brothers.
He graduated from Lenora High School at the tender age of 18, married his high school sweetheart Gloria Personett, April 10, 1955.
Don and Gloria started their own family only seven miles from where he grew up. Now he and Gloria had three kids to wrangle, well the first two anyway. The youngest was good.
He began working at a local gas station but decided rather quickly that he was tired of pumping gas. One day he walked over to the Exchange Bank of Lenora and asked for a job. He was hired even though it was only to keep the sidewalk swept. His employers realized the potential in Don and sent him to banking school. Don eventually owned the bank and worked there alongside Gloria for 42 years.
Family, country, and community were very important to Don. He joined the Army National Guard as a young man and served 24 years ending with the rank of major.
Listing everything Don Heikes did in his life would take several pages. So here are some highlights of a very busy life: past Lenora City Council, past Mayor of Lenora, member of Lenora Pride, treasurer for the United Parish Church, several banking organizations, Norton County Hospital Board, Cemetery Board for the Lenora South Cemetery, Grand Master of Odd Fellows.
Then outside of all those activities, he helped maintain the Lenora Airport (yes, Lenora had an airport), was in charge of the veterans’ flags at the local cemeteries, (with Gloria and Neva’s help) and was a member of the Audubon of Kansas Board (a wildlife conservation group).
Being a farm kid, Don respected and loved the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and bird watching. He also liked to paint, do woodworking and loved model trains. He had a wonderful singing voice and was a member of a local quartet.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers Dwight Heikes and Dennis Heikes; his wife of 68 years, Goria Personett Heikes; and a son Kevin Heikes. He is survived by one son, Bryce Heikes of Mexico; one daughter Neva Heikes of Salina; and a granddaughter Serina Heikes of Kansas City.
In lieu of flowers Don wanted a memorial to the bird sanctuary he enjoyed for many years and visited often. The Lillian Rowe Wildlife Center in Gibbon, Nebraska ensures there is habitat for migrating sandhill cranes and waterfowl.
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