Mazurkevics, Zigreda "Zig"

Zigrida "Zig" Vande Giessen, after a long battle with Alzheimer's, passed away peacefully in her Kalamazoo home on 3/18/22 with her loving husband Clare at her side.

Zig was an only child, born on 1/7/43 in Daugavpils, Latvia to Anatolijs and Adele Mazurkevics. The family fled their homeland when she was just a toddler toward the end of WWII, spending several years as displaced persons in various refugee camps in Germany.

Her family was granted immigration status to the U.S. and they eventually settled in Kalamazoo when she was 7 yrs old, where a Latvian community of refugees had recently been established.

There she attended grade school, South Jr. High, and graduated from Kalamazoo Central HS. Afterwards, going on to attend WMU for 2 yrs.

With her charm and natural beauty, she made friends easily and was gifted with words as well as a quick, sharp wit that left lasting impressions. On 8/14/75, she married Clare Vande Giessen, the love of her life, devoting and sharing nearly 47 yrs of marriage together!

She was a voracious and avid reader with an innate sense of style which she reflected aesthetically throughout their home, both inside and out. She was a devoted gardener as well, and found great joy in designing and tending to her beautiful home gardens, not shying away from getting her hands dirty in the process.

She loved traveling, especially the extensive trips to Europe and East Africa together with Clare. In recent years, they also enjoyed many winters in their cozy vacation home in Ft. Myers, FL

Zig is survived by her husband Clare, step-children Bill (Penny) Vande Giessen and Tamara (Scott) Rozankovich, step-grandchildren Jordan, Leyna (Luke), Bella, Justin (Jackie), Lauren, and Jace, as well as cousins in Canada and Latvia (and families), as well as countless friends.

Visitation will be from 10-10:45am on Tuesday, April 5 with a memorial service to follow at 11am, both at the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kalamazoo, 122 Cherry Hill, 49006.
A luncheon will follow next door at the Latvian Heritage Center.

Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church or any favored garden societies.