Janis "John" Valainis

Funeral Services and Mass of Christian Burial for Janis "John" Valainis, 73, a resident of Davenport will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 4 to 7 p.m.at the Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home where a Prayer Service will be offered at 6:30 p.m. John died Saturday, April 5, at Genesis West Medical Center after an extended illness. Janis Valainis was born February 27, 1935, in Latvia, the son of Donats and Monika (Savckis) Valainis. He was united in marriage to Amalia "Molly" Valainis January 19, 1959, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Davenport. Molly preceded him in death May 11, 2004.
John graduated from St. Ambrose Academy in 1955. He retired in 1997 from Oscar Mayer & Company after 42 years of employment as a meat cutter. After his retirement he was a driver for Burke Cleaners and Colman Florist. John was a member of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Knights of Columbus Loras Council # 532 and 4th Degree Loras Assembly # 260, and Knights of Columbus bowling league. He was a former member of the Mexican American Organization and the Lady of Guadalupe Society. He served on the Parish Council and Pastoral Council at the former St. Joseph Catholic Church in Davenport. John was active and helped coach in the Rising Knights football program. His hobbies include fishing, traveling, bowling and taking trips to visit his grandchildren and going to their sporting events. John was very proud of his Latvian heritage. Memorials may be made to Assumption High School or the family. Survivors include his children and their spouses; Anthony and Lucy Valainis, Antonina "Nina" and Stan DeMay, all of Davenport, Regina and Rod Muilenburg, LaGrande, Ore., and Lorita and Mark Levy, St. Petersburg, Fla., 9 grandchildren, brothers, Rev Vitolds Valainis and Francis (Martha) Valainis, all of Iowa City, Iowa. Brother in law, Leo Zarins, Ann Arbor, Mich., nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members and very dear friends, Nick and Cindy Reyes of Davenport and Kathy Reyes who preceded in death. John was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Lidjia Zarins. Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed by visiting John's obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com