Date of Death: May 15, 2026
Service Details
His family will receive friends Friday, May 22, 2026 beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St., Three Rivers. A funeral service will follow at the funeral home with Rev. Aija Graham officiating.
Obituary Notice
Gundars Strautnieks, 93, of Three Rivers, passed away Friday, May 15, 2026 at Centrica Rose Arbor Place.
He was born Sept. 28, 1932 in Rauna, Latvia, the son of Edgars and Irma (Smukulis) Strautnieks. Moved from Rauna to Penkule, Latvia where he finished 5th grade before being displaced by the war and spending the next 6 years in various refugee camps in Germany. Came to the US with his family in 1950. Worked in Mississippi for one year until rejoining the rest of his family in Saginaw, Michigan. Gundars then served in the Army from 1954 until 1956.
Gundars graduated from Michigan State University with his bachelor’s and masters degree in education. Gundars started his work in schools as a PE teacher in Sandwich, Illinois, but moved through different jobs and titles until he retired as a principal at Douglas MacArthur High School in Saginaw Township.
On August 20th in 1960, he married Astrida Kalins. While raising 4 children together they found the time to spend time in various Latvian organizations and functions, especially Garezers here in Three Rivers. Then after a few years of well-earned retirement Gundars helped raise his daughter’s two sons.
Gundars stayed active with the Latvian Center Garezers in Three Rivers and the Kalamazoo Latvian Church. He also was a member of the Three Rivers Lions Club.
Gundars was an avid athlete throughout his life who participated in many different tournaments from racket ball to volleyball, but later on became a regular at the local gym, Healthtrac. He also found the time to be an active member of many different Latvian organizations after retiring. From his student organization Konkordija Valdemarija since his days at Michigan State, to Daugavas Vanagi, ALA, Garezers, and others as well.
Gundars liked working with people, but he was strong-willed and competitive. His Latvian heritage came first, but he always found time for the people and things he loved.
Remaining to cherish his memory are his wife, Astrida; sons, Andris, Eriks, and Markus; grandchildren, Erika, Erik, Stefans, and Liene; great-grandchildren, Sawyer, Peyton, Ryder, Wesley, and Zoey; and sister, Breva.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Monika; grandson, Konrads; and sister, Daina.
Additional Information
Donations in Gundars’ memory may be directed to the Kalamazoo Latvian Lutheran Church or Garezers. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Please Leave Your Condolences
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Mr. S was a great man, and wonderful school principal at DMHS! Home of the “General’s” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🪖 I still remember graduation 🎓 day on the football field on June 8th, 1986, and accepting my diploma and handshake 🤝 with Gundars. May you rest in peace Sir! THANK YOU! ✝️🙏🌅🇺🇲🪖😢🫡
Mr. S loved his students as a principal at MacArthur. He had a smile on his face to greet you with. Just talking to the man was always a delight to see. I say good bye to you Mr. S. I know you be proud of me and my achievements today. Signed, Daniel A. Engelke class of ‘ 82 and junior Vice President in 81.
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Gundars Strautnieks. My sincere condolences to Astrida and the family.
I was blessed to be able to work with Gundars at both MacArthur and Heritage High Schools where I was the athletic director. He was an outstanding administrator who cared deeply for the students and staff and lived by the principle of “How can I make your life better.”
He regularly attended athletic events and other school activities and was always generous with his time with everyone.
We are all better people for having had him in our lives.
Rest in peace my good friend, you did it the old fashioned way, you earned it.
Ron Stelter
Astrida and family, may God’s grace and strength be with you. My condolences for your loss.
I was both a camper as well as a counselor colleague of Gundars at Garezers. His armed forces background and leadership matched his patriotism for Latvia as well as for the United States that gave him and his family safe harbor from the Russian Red army. My condolences to Astrīda, Ērik and Markus whom I knew best.
Gundars bija ārkārtīgi kārtīgs, taisnīgs un sirsnīgs cilvēks, patriots. Bija prieks ar Gundaru strādāt kopā Garezerā un spēlēt vienā komandā ar viņu pirmajā atklātā Garezera volejbola čempionātā (kas pēc tam pārtapa par 4-2). Mēs uzvarējām 🙂 Vieglas smiltis, Gundar.
Astrida, we send our deepest condolences and love to you and your family. What a wonderful man he was! Some of my fondest memories of when he would come and play with Evan and Joshua while you were there too. Such a generous, big heart he had. May God’s grace wrap you all in His loving arms. Sue, Kurt, Evan and Joshua
My mother, Fran worked with Gundars at McBrite Elementary and always regarded him with great fondness and respect. I send sincere condolences to all his loving family from my own.
He was such a nice man and great principal at Douglas MacArthur. Loved starting out each school day hearing “this is your Principal Strautnieks.”
I met Gundars while at MSU. I really didn’t know him, but he was my “partner” in the one credit P.E. wrestling class. Little did I know that he would eventually be a colleague of mine. He was absolutely a principled a gentleman who tried to do things correctly. Saginaw Township schools was a better place because of Gundars. Condolences to the entire Strautnieks family. I was privileged to be able to work with him at Douglas MacArthur HIgh School (IMHO the best high school ever).
Condolences to the Strautnieks family. Not only was Mr. Strautnieks my principal at Douglas MacArthur in Saginaw – he was a wonderful fellow Latvian. My father (Indulis Judzis) knew him very well. He was a great man and I am so very sorry.
He was my favorite principal. Truly incredible human being. I always talk highly of him to this day. Rest in peace
Mr. Strautnieks’ was a man of honor whose dedication and loyalty never wavered as a leader and a colleague. He was an advocate for young people. Gundars, you will be missed.
sincere condolences to our long time family friends, the strautnieks, from rauna latvia. like our family, they survived world war two and fled for their lives from their homeland. the roots and heritage of fellow latvians are deep and strong as oak trees, enduring and beautiful. long live latvia!
To the family,
I met Gundars through the Lions Club and also as a customer at Bippus Shell, He was always nice to chat with. Although now that I read his obituary, it would have been interesting to hear of his childhood. My condolences to all the family.
A wonderful memory of Gundars was on our Horizons trip when we were introduced to a Smart car. Thinking it impossible for Gundars to fit in the auto, he proved us wrong! We missed him “trying it on for size” but claimed, “Not bad, comfortable, much more room than you’d expect”.
Gundars was a very nice man, as well as his wife Astrida. My sympathies to the family.
My memory of Gundars and Astrida. We were on a Horizon Club travel tour to Switzerland. We missed our gondola ride to the bottom of the mountain,
and we all trudged down the mountain together. We all had a good time and my condolences to Astrida and family.
Astrida; my condolences to you. You have been thru a lot, both happy and sad times but still managed to stay strong and take care of family. I miss seeing /talking with you and hope you find peace during this difficult time. Always :Your friend Kitty
My condolences to Astrida and his whole family. Remember the good times when thinking of him. He will be missed.