Andrejs Kengis

KENGIS, Andrejs of Three Rivers Andrejs passed away Wednesday morning, November 30, 2011 in Three Rivers, Michigan. He was born January 18, 1937 on his family's farm "Sietini", near the city of Valmiera, in the Republic of Latvia. His family fled Latvia in 1944 due to the Soviet occupation of Latvia. After living in displaced persons DP camps in Germany after World War II, his family was grateful for the opportunity to settle in the USA in 1949; first in Mississippi and then in Kalamazoo. Andrejs graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1957. He served in the U.S. Army from 1960-1962. He graduated from WMU with a degree in engineering in 1964. Andrejs married Aija Auseklis in Kalamazoo in 1965 and moved to Bay City Michigan, where they lived until 2000, when they moved to Three Rivers. He initially worked as an engineer and later was promoted to plant manager at the Eaton Corporation plant and subsequently as the Industrial Engineering Manager with Grede Foundries, both in Vassar, Michigan for over 30 years. He was a leader in the Saginaw and Kalamazoo Latvian communities, including being an active member of the Boy Scouts of America as Scoutmaster of the Latvian Boy Scout Troop of Kalamazoo, president of the Saginaw Latvian Club, deacon of the Latvian Lutheran churches in both cities and at the forefront of volunteers at the Latvian Center Garezers in Three Rivers. Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Aija Vija; three sons: Arnis of Kalamazoo, Roberts Shelley Kengis of Plainwell and Peters Stephanie Rose of Wilmington, IL. Also surviving are three grand children: Mikelis and Karlis Kengis of Wilmington and Vija Kengis of Plainwell; as well as siblings Ginta Sika Kalamazoo, Aija Janis Kukainis Kalamazoo and Janis Kengis of Wisconsin. Preceding him death were his parents: Roberts & Anna Priedkalns Kengis. A memorial service for Andrejs will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, Dec. 9, at Latvian Ev. Lutheran United Church of Kalamazoo, 122 Cherry Hill St., with Rev. Biruta Puike officiating. Memorial contributions instead of flowers may be directed to Latvian Center Garezers, 57732 Lone Tree Rd., Three Rivers, MI 49093 or Latvian Ev. Lutheran United Church of Kalamazoo, 122 Cherry Hill St., Kalamazoo, MI 49006.