Janis (Zigis) of Port Charlotte, FL, peacefully passed away on January 29, 2022. He was born in Riga, Latvia on February 26, 1934; his parents were Janis and Irene Baumanis, and sister Ivonna. They lived in Riga until 1944 when the Soviet Army seized the country from the German Army. The family left all possessions and escaped by ship to Germany. For five years, they were refugees, staying in displaced persons' camps in Cologne, Schweinfurt, and Bamberg. Janis went to high school in Bamberg and learned to read and speak German fluently.

In 1950, Janis' family was able to get authorization to immigrate to the United States. They traveled by ship and landed in New York City. Working several jobs and enjoying life in the States, he finally met his future wife (Aina Berzins) in New York at a Latvian dance. They married and had their first child (Andra) in Neptune, NJ. The new family moved to Chicago, IL in 1954, when they had their second child (Ai vars). A year later, they bought and moved into a farmhouse with Aina's parents in Winfield, IL. Two years later, following many renovations to the home, their third child (Raimonds) was born. Janis worked for many years for a home builder, learning to be an excellent dryv,all worker. He decided to start his own company, Baltic Drywall, hired several skilled employees, and made a good living providing quality drywall work to home owners.

The congregation of Saint Paul Lutheran Latvians in the Chicago suburbs decided to build their own church, and they did. Janis and the men, women, and children of the congregation ,vorked many years to build the church themselves. Soon after the church construction ,vas finished, Janis became the President of the Congregation, and served many years as their leader. Upon retirement, in January 2004, Janis and Aina decided to sell their Winfield home and move to Port Charlotte, FL.

Janis is preceded in death by his sister, Ivonna (2020). He is survived by Aina, wife of 68 years, daughter Andra and son-in-law Ed, son Aivars and daughter-in-law Isabelle, and son Raimonds (Ray) and daughter-in-law Christine; granddaughters, Rebecca, Brigitta, Marissa, Maraya, and Emma; and great-grandsons Andrew and Nathaniel. The family is requesting in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Janis be given to the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia ( https://okupacijasmuzejs.lv/en/donate/ ).