Maija Penikis

Maija Penikis

- - 1940-2019

Maija Penikis passed away August 7, 2019 at age 78. A proud immigrant, a talented journalist, a creative storyteller and a devoted friend, Maija touched many lives in Milwaukee and the Fox Valley and leaves a legacy of genuine goodness.

She is the dear sister of Janis John (Gundega) Penikis, Aris (Lynn) Penikis and the late Ojars (Lynn) Penikis. She is further survived by numerous nephews and nieces, cousins in Latvia, and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Edgars and Lucija (nee Kurts) Penikis.

Maija was proud of her immigrant journey, often sharing stories of how her family fled their tiny Baltic state of Latvia as political refugees after World War II when she was a young child. As Maija told it, she was riding her bicycle around the refugee camp when the administrator saw her and invited her into his office, where she drew out a lucky ticket. "I won the lottery for America," she said, marveling at her good fortune.

Her parents settled in Milwaukee's tight-knit Latvian community, where she grew up and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

During her more than 40 years as a reporter with The Post-Crescent in Appleton, Maija reported on religion, health, education and did general assignment writing. She covered topics ranging from pioneering heart transplants to the installations of two Green Bay Diocese bishops.

Maija was no shrinking violet. In 1988, she made a name for herself during the William Evers trial when she was asked in court to name a prostitute she had interviewed. She declined to reveal her source, gaining the support of state and national media.

Her reporting also took her abroad to Israel, Luxembourg, Russia, Morocco and China.

She was a consultant for the Fox Cities-Kurgan sister city program, hosting a number of visitors from Russia.

She also was active in forming the Post-Crescent Employees Association in the 1970s.

Maija retired from The Post-Crescent in 2002 and returned to Milwaukee and her beloved Latvian community.

Former co-workers recall Maija's passion for women's rights, politics, the fine arts, notably ballet and theater, reading, world travel and, of course, her rich heritage. She had a special fondness for sorrel soup and pirogues. She celebrated when the Baltic States regained their independence with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Maija made frequent trips to her homeland to visit a multitude of cousins, taking suitcases packed with clothing of all sizes, particularly blue jeans, and hard-to-get medicine for needy relatives.

There's also the story she told about visiting the still-standing Berlin Wall, sneaking through an open piece of fence just to snub her nose at the Russian occupiers before heading right back to the West.

She will be remembered for her outsized personality, strong opinions, mentoring of young reporters and her love for entertaining her wide network of friends. She was intensely curious about those she met, and they were inevitably drawn to her. As one friend and colleague said, "People always wanted to talk to her and tell her their life stories."

A legacy, indeed.

A memorial gathering for Maija will be held at Latvian Lutheran Church, 1853 N. 75th St., Wauwatosa, Wis., on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. A service will be held at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Latvian Lutheran Church to benefit severely mentally challenged children in Latvia are appreciated.