Visvaldis Janavs' Obituary
Visvaldis Janavs, MDVisvaldis Janavs was born on a small farm in Birzgale, Latvia on September 12, 1921. Growing up, his life was simple, but hard. He developed a love for travel even in his youth by biking throughout Latvia in the summer. After primary and secondary schools, he entered the Medical School of the University of Latvia in Riga (1940). From 1943 to 1946 his studies were interupted by World War 2. During this time he was a corporal in the Latvian Legion. He worked as a medical assistant in the army on the front taking care of the wounded. Fortunately he did not get any injuries or was ever wounded. For 6 months he was a prisoner of war in Germany in a POW camp (Fallingbostel, Sandbostel and Westerbur Camps). Here, he worked as a medic taking care of the prisoners of war. He escaped from the camp with the help of the Red Cross. From 1946 to 1949 he was a student at Christian - Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany, graduating with a Doctor of Medicine degree. Traveling again invited him to join the International Refugee Organization and from 1951-1952 he was the Medical Escort Officer shipboard, which took him around the globe literally. He had left his beloved homeland of Latvia while it was a free country before the war, but after the war the Russians or Communists occupied it or took over. Latvia was always very close to his heart. Then, with sponsorship by the American Lutheran Church, he found a new home in South Dakota. He entered the United States in 1951 and began a one-year internship at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 1952 he obtained his state license and in that same year he married Livija Norgello who was also from Latvia. Their family includes a son, Juris Janavs, MD and daughter-in-law Deborah G. Janavs, MD from Tampa, FL and a daughter, Anita Janavs-Jones, MD and son-in-law, John A. Jones, MD from Charlottesville, VA. Visvaldis and Livija also have 5 grand children. Juris and Anita remember wonderful childhood experiences with numerous family vacations in the US and abroad, including Latvia, and several winter skiing trips. Dr. Janavs was well respected and extremely busy in his medical career but also found time to enjoy gardening and photography. With his extensive travel and studies, he became fluent not only in Latvian but also English, German, Russian and Latin languages. His personal library was huge and reflected his love of reading and learning a variety of topics, especially history. Retirement to Florida in 1986 brought a few physical challenges with time, but did not dull his passion for traveling - even if just locally on small excursions. And now, this world-class traveler can continue on another journey. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to:The Museum of the Occupation of LatviaMake checks payable to: OMFA or The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, attn: in memory of Dr. Visvaldis JanavsMail the checks to:Daina Albertins1053 Alder LaneNaperville, Illinois 60540-7201
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