Harijs 'Harry' Rollis

ROLLIS, HARIJS HARRY
of Ada, MI
formerly of Kalamazoo, MI
and Denver, CO Harry Rollis, age 85 of Ada MI, formerly of Kalamazoo, MI and Denver, CO, passed away unexpectedly on Friday April 6, 2012. Surviving are his wife of 33 years, Mirdza Rollis; daughters Lia Roger Anderson of Potter, NE and Aija Tobin of Cheyenne, WY; stepdaughter, Daina Atis Lizenbergs of Chicago, IL; stepsons, Karlis Anda Vizulis of Ada, Valdis Kendi Vizulis of Thousand Oaks, CA and Andris Rebecca Vizulis of Newton, MA; sister, Regina Lielauss of Jelgava, Latvia; brother Richards Anita Rollis of St. Pete's Beach, FL; niece and goddaughter Dace Teagardin of Tavernier, FL; grandchildren Gary, Katie, Andris, Arjana, Larisa, Aleks, Ilze, Sofia and David; and six great-grandchildren, Christopher, Nathan, Makenna, Sawyer, Finn, and Lucija. Harry's life-journey began in Jelgava, Latvia, in 1926. In 1943, his service defending his country in the Latvian Army and the subsequent upheavals of World War II forever separated him from his beloved Latvia, carrying him throughout Eastern Europe and Germany. After the War's end, he spent five years in the coal mines of Belgium before seeking a new life in Montreal, Canada. A few years later, he settled in Denver, CO, becoming a proud American citizen in 1961. Harry moved to Kalamazoo MI in 1977, working at Allied Paper Company for ten years, and then settled in Ada in 2006. An avid fisherman, nature lover, history buff and classical music enthusiast, Harry was most of all an indefatigable free thinker who cared deeply for his family, friends and America. A memorial service will be held Friday, April 20 at noon at the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran United Church, 122 Cherry Hill Street, Kalamazoo MI. Contributions in Harry's honor will be deeply appreciated and may be made to Latvian Center Garezers, 57732 Lone Tree Rd, Three Rivers, MI 49093.