Rita Baltmanis

Aged 86, passed away in her home in Waupaca, WI on Sunday, September 14th, 2008. Rita was born in the Mezotne Castle in Latvia on July 22nd, 1922 to Anete and Ernests Kalnins. She studied to be a teacher at the Jelgava Teachers Institute, where she also met her husband Arturs. She began her career as a teacher as World War II was breaking out. She left Latvia in Sept, 1944 with relatives by train prior to the Soviet invasion while Arturs was evacuated by a hospital ship. Rita and Arturs miraculously reunited in Germany towards the end of the war. They spent several years in a Displaced Persons Camp in Fischbach, Germany, where their sons Peter and Martin were born. The family moved to the United States in 1951, and settled in Milwaukee near Latvian friends. Just two years later, they had a third son Jon. In 1978, Rita and Arturs retired to their beautiful country home in Waushara County. Rita enjoyed the simple things in life, cherished the outdoors, and always loved the companionship of family and friends (the larger the gathering, the better). Rita will be missed very much by her two sons Jon and Martin, her daughter-in-law Olga, her grandchildren Peter, Eric, Andrea, Jenny and step-grandchildren Linda and Laima, four great-grandchildren Ashley, Spencer, Marianne, and Rayna, family in Latvia, Australia, Finland, and the United States and many friends throughout the world. Rita was preceded in death by her son Peter, and her husband of 60 years, Arturs, and was the last remaining of her 13 siblings. Her ashes will be laid to rest in the Garsene Cemetery in Latvia next to her husband. A memorial service for Rita will be held at 11am Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Cline-Hanson-Dahlke Funeral Home, 200 S. Mill St., Weyauwega with Rev. Lauma Zusevics officiating. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home from 10am Saturday until the time of the service. A lunch at the Chez marche Café, 108 S. Main St, Waupaca will follow the service. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established.