Date of Death: October 5, 2020
Service Details
In accordance with his and his family’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will take place in the spring or summer of 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic allows. Announcements pending.
Obituary Notice
Andrejs Rozentals
August 3, 1936 – October 5, 2020
Andrejs Rozentals, 84, of Three Rivers, MI., passed away on October 5th, 2020 at home with his loving family by his side after a very short battle with cancer. He was born in Riga, Latvia the youngest of three children, to Ludvigs and Alisa (Meija) Rozentals. Preceded in death by his son, Gunars Juris Rozentals and older brother, Gunars Rozentals. Andy leaves behind his wife of 58 years, Ruta (Krinte) Rozentals, a daughter, Andra Anna Rozentals, his son, Valdis Andrejs Rozentals and his sister Dzidra Dagmara Apsite. Andrejs also left behind four beloved grandchildren, Lidija (Aija) Lillie, Andrejs, Zinaida and Zile Rozentals.
Andrejs’ family, as many families from Latvia did, fled from Communist Soviet Russia Occupation and settled in a small town in Germany. They later were in a displaced person’s camp called Ansbach. The family was sponsored by a generous family which allowed them passage to the US where they settled in Grand Rapids, MI. Ruta and Andy knew each other as children in Ansbach but did not reconnect until many years later at a Latvian song festival in Indianapolis.
Andrejs started school, at the end of WWII, in Germany and continued his education in Grand Rapids, MI. He graduated from Michigan State with a Bachelor of Science degree. Post graduation, Andy had several positions as an Engineer, most notably with Honeywell and Alliant Techsystems.
Andy spent most of his “free time” serving in the US Army National Guard & US Army Reserves and retired as the rank of LTC. This was a true passion of Andrejs as he actively served for 49 1/2 years.
Volunteering was very important to Andrejs as well, spending more than 20 years helping those in need preparing taxes in MN and MI with St. Joseph County COA. He lobbied in Lansing as a Michigan Senior Advocate Council advocating for elderly citizens.
As well as the many activities he was involved with, Andy loved spending time with his family, especially his grown children and grandchildren whenever possible. Andy was very disciplined and wise in many ways and always provided helpful advice.
The Latvian fraternity, Fr. Livonica that Andrejs belonged to originated in Latvia and Andrejs led the efforts in the US to continue the sacred traditions that included members across the United States. He was well renowned for his singing and dancing abilities within the fraternity.
Additional Information
Memorials in Andrejs’ honor may be directed to the Latvian Camp Garezers (Three Rivers, MI), The Latvian Lutheran Church of Kalamazoo or The Home Owners Association “Ciems Latvija” (Three Rivers, MI).
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Andra, Sorry to hear of the loss of your father. I remember him from the visits I had with your family in MN. I returned to MI to care for my parents, whom are now both gone. It is hard no matter what age we are to loose a parent.
I’ve thought of you often and would love to reconnect.
Sally
I served with Andy in the Army Reserve and have nothing but positive and sincere thoughts of my service with him. I was subordinate to Andy and assumed his position upon his retirement. He was ALWAYS helpful, generous and understanding in his guidance and counsel. I considered him a true friend (and fellow Spartan) and truly missed him when he left MN and moved back to MI. His energy was infectious and he was a leader by example. Andy was a jokester – though sometimes they were groaners – everyone had a good laugh. I know Andy will be missed by his family but please know there are a great many who have fond thoughts of him and he will live on in their memories.
Our deepest condolences to Ruta and the entire family… We have had the honor of knowing Andrejs and the family thru the years, always generous, loving and welcoming. There would always be singing and dancing in most every Latvian occasion, with Andrejs right there with my father – still continue to smile when I think back on all the fond and wonderful memories. Please know our hearts are with you and we are sending love and prayers.
Heartfelt sympathies to Ruta and the rest of Andrejs’ family from us. He was a wonderful man, teacher and colleague. I first knew him as a teacher in our Minneapolis Latvian Church Sunday school and also as a good friend with his wife to my parents Ruta and Gunars. Later in life, my husband Tom enjoyed meeting “Andy” and Ruta and Andy always made a point to converse with Tom. I had the honor of working with him at Alliant Techsystems, where the tide turned as we became colleagues and an odd change for me in calling him by his first name. His kindness and smile will be missed by all!
Thank you for your kind words! I remember when you and my father became “colleagues.” I think he felt a sense of pride and accomplishment on behalf of you and your parents. He genuinely respected and appreciated your achievements. Your parents were truly golden friends of my parents. They shared a lot of good times together.
I served with Andy in the Army Reserves as part of the 56th Materiel Management Center at Fort Snelling, MN. He was my superior in the Plans and Policy Branch. He was an outstanding and professional officer and leader. His personal style of leadership embodied the very best of professionalism, knowledge, honesty and integrity. Soldiers who knew and worked with Andy respected his sense of duty and willingness to solve every problem with a positive attitude. No task was too large to accomplish. He treated all of us who worked with him with respect and he always listened to what we had to say. Andy was genuine, kind and a gentleman.
Although I retired from the military in 1994, Andy left an indelible impression on me. On a personal note I especially his smile, hearty laugh and kindness. He was a true gentleman and was respected not just for his rank and position but because his engaging personality and warmth. My sincere apology to his friends and family.
On behalf of all of us of the Michigan Senior Advocates Council (MSAC) I want to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of our wonderful colleague and friend, Andy. I personally so enjoyed working with Andy over the several years he served on Council .He was a newby as I was at the time and we hit if off right away! Following our monthly meeting in Lansing in the Capitol building, Andy and I, sometimes joined by several others delegates, would make our walk to the House office building where we would begin our visits. Andy and I visited together because our two Area Agency on Aging regions shared a couple of legislators so as Andy said, we could double up on them! I so enjoyed our conversations over lunch which we’d have together before heading to the Senate offices and back for a wrap up of our meeting where we would discuss who we had seen and how they had responded to the issues we were talking about with them. Andy seemed to me to be a person who was eager to live his life lending help to others and because of that way of being in the world he was treasured by all of us at MSAC. We have missed his presence since he resigned from the council some months ago. You will all continue to be in our prayers during this time of grieving. May God’s peace and grace accompany you all.
Izsakam dzilu lidzjutibu visai gimenei. Si bilde ir tiesi ka es atceresos Andreju….ar smaidu seja. Jus visi esat manas lugsanas.