Janis Bars

JANIS (JOHN) BARS

Janis (John) Bars was born on April 6, 1919 in Tervete, Latvia and died on January 11, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario. He is greatly missed by his wife Dr. agr. Austra Bars (nee Hildebrants); his children Ivars Bars (wife Rita) and Sandra Upeslacis (husband Alberts); his four grandsons Aleksis Bars, Nikolas Bars, Rolands Bars and Eriks Upeslacis and three step-granddaughters Krista (husband Kriss Brauns, daughter Mila) Upeslacis, Laila (husband Matt Jackson, daughter Isabelle) Upeslacis and Liga Upeslacis. In 1943, Janis obtained a Degree as an Agronomist at the Latvia Academy of Agriculture in Jelgava, Latvia. In 1944, he left war-torn Latvia for Germany. After three years in Germany at a displaced persons camp, he left for England. After four years in England, in 1951, he immigrated to Canada. He became a Canadian citizen in 1956. In 1957, he obtained a Master of Commerce (MBA) Degree from the University of Toronto. From 1959 to 1984 Janis worked at Commander Electrical Equipment, initially as a Purchasing Manager and was later promoted to Materials Manager. He oversaw production planning, inventory control, purchasing and warehousing for three production plants and a head office. While at Commander Electric, Janis joined the Purchasing Management Association of Canada. In 1967, he obtained a Professional Purchaser Diploma from the Association. By the end of his career, Janis was Materials Manager for GTE, a large multinational corporation. Janis was an active member of the Latvian Canadian community. He was a volunteer member of the board of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Latvian Church, Toronto, from approximately 1970 to 2000. He was a member of the Audit Committee of the Latvian Lutheran Church in Exile Worldwide for more than 20 years. In 1957, Janis joined the Latvian National Federation in Canada and was a lifetime member of the organization, having served numerous times on its executive board. For more than 15 years he was a member of the Federation's Audit Committee. Janis was a founding member of the Latvian Credit Union in Toronto, established in 1959. He served as an executive member on the first Board of Directors of the financial institution. Janis was also a founding member of the Fraternitas Lataviensis Canada division, a Latvia-based men's fraternity. He was a longstanding member of the Audit Committee of the Toronto Latvian Pensioners Union and also served as the Committee's Chair. Janis was a shareholder of Latviesu Nams, a Toronto non-profit community organization. Before this organization was established, he was a member of the canvassing committee that was charged with establishing shareholders for the group. For many years, Janis was a member of the Audit Committee of Latviesu Nams. Janis was also a longstanding volunteer at the Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre, Toronto. He never forgot his roots and retained close ties with his family in Latvia. Janis was a loving spouse, a devoted father, doting grandfather and great friend to many in the Latvian community. In his spare time he enjoyed gardening and being outdoors - whether at his Willowdale home or at the cottage he built with the help of friends and family in Allenwood Beach, Ontario. He loved building projects and socializing with friends. He had a flair for fashion and was always impeccably dressed. Janis had a zest for life and a kind and unassuming manner. In his retirement years, Janis relished the time spent with his grandchildren, saying often that they kept him feeling young and alive. A visitation for Janis (John) Bars will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at R.S. Kane Funeral Home, 6150 Yonge Street, North York, from 5 to 7 p.m. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Evangelical Latvian Lutheran Church, 200 Balmoral Avenue, Toronto. Those who wish to donate, in lieu of flowers, are invited to contribute to the Latvian Lutheran Church, Tervete Latvia, c/o the Toronto Latvian Credit Union, 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto. Interment York Cemetery. Condolences may be made at www.rskane.ca