Janis Vaivods

VAIVODS, Janis  Age 99, of Fenton, died Saturday, February 28, 2004 at his residence. Funeral mass will be celebrated 11 AM Wednesday, March 3, 2004 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. David Harvey celebrant. Interment will be held at Oakwood Cemetery, Fenton. Visitation will be held 5-9 PM Monday and 2-4 and 6-9 PM Tuesday at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton. A scripture service will be held 7 PM Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the American Latvian Association. Mr. Vaivods was born December 25, 1904 in Latvia, the son of Kazimirs and Anna (Rusins) Vaivods. He married Margarita Erglis on June 29, 1935 and she preceded him in death on June 20, 1964. Mr. Vaivods was a schoolteacher in Latvia until 1944 when he left to escape the Russian Communist occupation. He and his family went to Germany and lived in refugee camps, where he also was a schoolteacher until 1950 when he moved to America. In 1955 he became an American citizen and settled in Fenton. He ran six farms for Judge Ira W. Jayne, worked in a factory and worked for the City of Fenton for 17 years, first in Public Works Department and later as a custodian. Mr. Vaivods was a long time member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, where he sang in the choir for many years. He enjoyed traveling and returned to Latvia ten times to visit relatives and also traveled to Guatemala, Mexico, Russia, Finland, Denmark, Estonia and throughout the United States. Surviving are: son, John and wife, Philene Vaivods of Bainbridge Island, WA; daughter, Ilze and husband, Donald Koch of East Lansing; son-in-law, Guillermo Alvarado of Guatemala; three grandchildren, Erik and wife, Leslie Alvarado of Randolph, NJ, Manolo Alvarado of Morristown, NJ, Gunther Alvarado of Fenton; two great-grandchildren, Mara and Nicolas Alvarado; numerous nieces and nephews in Latvia; special friends, Marlene and Carl Sechan. He was also preceded in death by: daughter Mara Alvarado in 1990 and seven siblings. The family would like to thank Dr. Amy Daros, Genesys Hospice and the wonderful staff of the Pines of Lake Fenton for the loving care provided to our father. Friends may share their online condolences with the family at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.