Vilis Kalnins

Dexter, Mich., – Vilis Kalnins, also known as "Boo" by family and friends, passed away on January 31, 2023 after an incredible, nearly 99 year journey. He was born March 8, 1924 in Mežotne, Latvia.

As the oldest of three sons, he was expected to inherit the family farm, but dreamed of becoming a machinist at the local sawmill instead. Neither was to happen. In 1943 Vilis was drafted into the Latvian Legion by the occupying German army, and sent to fight on the Eastern front against the invading Soviet Communist/Russian army. Wounded twice, first catching a bullet in his teeth, then in the leg, he found himself convalescing in Denmark when the war ended. Latvia fell behind the "iron curtain", and Vilis could not return. He joined other Latvian refugees in a displaced persons' camp before finding work at Copenhagen's giant diesel ship engine plant "Burmeister & Wain."

Still feeling too close to the Soviet border, Vilis emigrated to Canada in 1950. He worked and stayed with his sponsor – a potato farmer near London, Ontario – for one year, then moved on to factory work in the city.

In London Vilis met his future wife, Astra, a friend's sister, a divorcee with a five-year-old daughter, who was visiting from Detroit. X-rays revealed spots on his lungs, and was placed in a TB sanitarium for two years.

They were married in 1956, and Vilis was finally able to immigrate from Canada in 1958, the year their son was born.

This country was in a deep recession, and Vilis took any job to be found – from washing dishes at Henry Ford Hospital, to electrical wiring in homes, installing fire and burglar alarms, and auto repair. He polished his skills by studying electronics and mechanics at night school. After 26 years at Bokum Tool and Dye as a lathe operator, Vilis retired and moved from Farmington Hills to Dexter, where he converted a small barn on their daughter and son-in-law's Webster Township property into a comfortable residence for himself and Astra. Vilis had dedicated his life to the hope of freeing the country of his birth, Latvia, from Russian occupation.

For many years he led the Detroit area chapter of the Latvian veterans welfare organization "Daugavas Vanagi." In 1991, after Latvia regained it's independence, Vilis was finally able to go home, to see his brothers.

Much of Vilis' life was filled with music. His wife had been a soloist at the First Presbyterian Church in Detroit, also with the Michigan Opera Company with recitals in Latvian centers across the US and Canada, and finally, a voice teacher. Although he was very supportive of her singing career, his true secret love was his accordion.

Vilis had a lifelong interest in everything, seemed to know everything, and could fix anything.\ An active mind, a hearty laugh, an independent spirit, always ready with a helping hand or advice – these are the qualities that kept him strong and vital to the end. Recently having been seen under his car changing oil, up on a ladder cleaning his gutters, filling potholes in his church parking lot, riding his minibike over fields and hills, he was looking forward to flying in a glider this spring. He was inspiration to his children, granddaughters, great-grandsons, and everyone who knew him. Vilis will be missed by his son Edvins Kalnins; daughter, Liga (John) Jekabson; granddaughters, Laila Gislason, Marissa (Bill) LaDitka, Elize (Rikki) Jekabson; great-grandsons, Magnus Gislason, Henrik Gislason, Arlo Kovatch, Brix Kovatch. He was preceded in death by his wife, Astra, his granddaughter Amanda Jekabson, and his parents and brothers in Latvia.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Latvian Lutheran Church in Farmington Hills at future time to be determined, and his ashes will be scattered in Latvia.