Gunnars Varpa

In loving memory, Gunnars Varpa, 81 years old, passed away Wednesday morning, April 15, 2009, at Lakeland Medical Center. Those wishing to send the family condolences or sign the guestbook may do so on-line at www.starks-menchinger.com. Gunnars was born on February 27,1928, in Riga, Latvia. Son of Voldemars and Valija (Stokmans) Varpa, Gunnars became a faithful American citizen in 1955 and served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Married to Ligsma Petritis for 57 years, Gunnars ended his years at the post office as a postal supervisor in Benton Harbor. He was active in Kiwanis, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Latvian Society. He is survived by his wife Ligsma, his son Robert, daughter-in-law Karen (Roland), grandson Brandon, step grandchildren Fawn, Jyl and Katrina Todd. Great grandsons Jonathan and Landon., sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Inara and Bob Milroy, Mara and Bill Stark, Nancy and Valdis Petritis, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Silvia Varpa, of Colorado and his sister, Mara, and his parents. His love of poetry and Latvia continues in death as in life: Man ir, it ka kad paceltos Gars augstumos kur debess telts Ir pulcejusi engelus Kur ares spid ka spozais zelts.