Leonard D. Sova

Leonard D. "Len" Sova was born on April 30, 1927, in Royal Oak Township, Michigan, the son of Edward and Laura (Roberts) Sova. After a long illness, he passed away March 6, 2011, at Clare Bridge Cottage in Topeka.

He was raised and attended school in Hazel Park, MI. Len enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a Fireman First Class USNR aboard the USS Alcor. He was honorably discharged on June 27, 1946. Len married Dorothy Jean Foster in 1946. Their son, Leonard D. Sova, Jr. was born in May, 1947, and survived only a few days. Later, they moved to California, where in 1969, their son, David A. Sova was born. Len worked as a sheet metal worker before entering the restaurant business. He partnered with his brother, Ben Corriveau, and they owned and operated a Denny's Restaurant in Huntington Beach, CA. In 1970, Len moved from Huntington Beach to Topeka to open three additional Denny's Restaurants, while he continued to commute and operate the Huntington Beach Denny's. Len and Dorothy divorced in 1978. In 1979, Len married Jeannine (Markmann) Jones and welcomed daughters Nicki Leigh Jones and Laura "Lynne" (Jones) Weiser and her husband Terry Weiser to his family. Over the years he was owner/operator of several more restaurants in the Topeka area, including P.J.'s at Maple Hill, the 23rd St. Burger King in Lawrence in partnership with his brother-in-law, Art Ollila, and the Green Parrot Country Western Nightclub and Steak House in Topeka. Leonard was active in the VFW for over 61 years. In 1958-59, he was Post Commander of the Hazel Park, MI VFW Post 3140. He was Parade Chairman of the Memorial Day parade for several years and has held other offices in the Philip Billard VFW Post 1650 of Topeka. In 2007, he established and funded the Leonard and Jeannine Sova Endowment Fund for Philip Billard Post 1650. Len, a retired businessman, was well-known in the Topeka community and as the unofficial "greeter" at the 21st St. Kwik Shop. For this, he was featured on the Channel 49 TV show "People In The Heartland" series. His favorite hobbies were traveling, hunting, and fishing.

Len was the sixth of Laura Sova Corriveau's nine children. He was preceded in death by his father; step-father, Nazaire B. Corriveau; mother; and the following siblings and their spouses: Ellen Sova Cadaret and Earl Cadaret; Clarence and Belle Sova; Marvin and Albertine Sova; Francis and Verl Sova; and sister-in-law, Janette Sova. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jeannine, and their adored canines, Peanut and Ginger, of the home. Also surviving are his son, David Sova and grandson, Cory Sova, of Topeka; daughters, Nicki L. Jones, Topeka; Laura "Lynne" (Terry) Weiser; granddaughter, Abby Weiser, of Overland Park, KS; and grandson, T.J. (Kate) Weiser, of Dallas, TX. His surviving siblings and spouses are: brother, Robert Sova, Hazel Park, MI; sisters, Verna Corriveau (Fred) Samuel, Shelby Township, MI; and Jean Corriveau (Art) Ollila, and brother, Ben (Shirley) Corriveau, all of The Villages, Lady Lake, FL. In addition, he is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2011, at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Rd., Topeka, KS 66610. Inurnment will take place in White Chapel Memorial Cemetery, in Troy, MI, at a later date. In lieu, of flowers, contributions may be made to SCARS (Second Chance Animal Refuge Society), P.O. Box 22, Auburn, KS 66402, to honor Len's lifelong love of dogs.