Obituary for John Apinis
John Apinis
March 20, 1933 – April 7, 2022
John Apinis, 89, husband of the late Johnnie Burden Apinis, of Anderson, SC passed away at AnMed Health Medical Center, Anderson, S.C., on April 7, 2022.
John was the son of the late Augusts Apinis, and the late Marta Gravelsins Apinis.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his brother, Charlie Apinis and nephews, Randy Newton, John Newton, and Dr. Don Healy.
He is survived by his brother, Valdis Apinis (Dee), nephew, Philip Westbrook, niece, Jan Healy, nephews, Rev. Bryan Apinis (Kathryn), Andy Apinis (Donna), Ron Apinis (Robin), John Charles Apinis (Wendy) and Erik Apinis (Jennifer). He is also survived by his nieces, Marta Myers (Adam), Kelly Mullikin (Jason), and Laura Linda Apinis (Susan), and his sister-in-law, Cathy Apinis and cousin, Talis Libants.
At the age of four, John’s father, Augusts, sold the family farm, “Vainagi” and purchased “Groti,” the homestead back in Augusts’ birth town of Sigulda, Latvia. That is where John, known by his Latvian name, “Janis”, spent his early years, and where his two brothers were born.
At the age of eleven, John and his family were uprooted as the Russian army were advancing WWII. They dug items of value into the ground for temporary safe keeping and packed what they could on two horse-drawn wagons, where they headed to the port of Liepaja on the Baltic Sea, in hopes of escaping to safety in Germany. They were able to board a German troop carrier, along with other refugees, which brought them to Gottenhaffen, Germany, on November 3, 1944.
The family traveled by train through the war-torn zones of Germany, saw bombed out Dresden while it was up in flames, fearing they would be recognized as non-citizens. John and his family were able to take refuge in Czechoslovakia for six months. The following three years, they were assigned to a displaced persons camp in Esslingen where John attended Latvian grammar school, became a member of the scout troop, and participated in organized sports.
In early 1949, John’s family received sponsorship from the Lutheran World Federation Resettlement Service. August of 1949, they arrived in the United States with work and shelter offered on a farm in Simonsville, Vermont. There John attended school in Chester, Vermont while his family worked on the farm.
With unsustainability in Vermont, John’s aunt, Anna Libants, relocated the family to Unity, Maryland to continue farm work. John attended school, worked alongside his father on the farm during the week and volunteered at a local restaurant in Wheaton, Maryland named “Town and Country.”
In 1952, John’s family relocated to Willimantic, Connecticut to join a large Latvian community while John stayed in Maryland to finish school. John graduated high school, obtained his U.S. citizenship on June 15, 1954, and enlisted in the U.S. Army. After serving, John went on to Clemson University where he obtained his bachelor's degree and met the love of his life, Johnnie Burden. John married in 1960 and became a textile chemist for Burlington Industries. John and Johnnie were married for fifty-five years until her death in 2015.
A graveside service will be held at 12:00pm, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at New Silver Brook Cemetery, Anderson, S.C. Rev. Bryan Apinis will officiate.
The family will speak to attendees following the service.
The Standard Cremation & Funeral Center is serving the Apinis family.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com.
THE STANDARD CREMATION & FUNERAL CENTER, ANDERSON, S.C
March 20, 1933 – April 7, 2022
John Apinis, 89, husband of the late Johnnie Burden Apinis, of Anderson, SC passed away at AnMed Health Medical Center, Anderson, S.C., on April 7, 2022.
John was the son of the late Augusts Apinis, and the late Marta Gravelsins Apinis.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his brother, Charlie Apinis and nephews, Randy Newton, John Newton, and Dr. Don Healy.
He is survived by his brother, Valdis Apinis (Dee), nephew, Philip Westbrook, niece, Jan Healy, nephews, Rev. Bryan Apinis (Kathryn), Andy Apinis (Donna), Ron Apinis (Robin), John Charles Apinis (Wendy) and Erik Apinis (Jennifer). He is also survived by his nieces, Marta Myers (Adam), Kelly Mullikin (Jason), and Laura Linda Apinis (Susan), and his sister-in-law, Cathy Apinis and cousin, Talis Libants.
At the age of four, John’s father, Augusts, sold the family farm, “Vainagi” and purchased “Groti,” the homestead back in Augusts’ birth town of Sigulda, Latvia. That is where John, known by his Latvian name, “Janis”, spent his early years, and where his two brothers were born.
At the age of eleven, John and his family were uprooted as the Russian army were advancing WWII. They dug items of value into the ground for temporary safe keeping and packed what they could on two horse-drawn wagons, where they headed to the port of Liepaja on the Baltic Sea, in hopes of escaping to safety in Germany. They were able to board a German troop carrier, along with other refugees, which brought them to Gottenhaffen, Germany, on November 3, 1944.
The family traveled by train through the war-torn zones of Germany, saw bombed out Dresden while it was up in flames, fearing they would be recognized as non-citizens. John and his family were able to take refuge in Czechoslovakia for six months. The following three years, they were assigned to a displaced persons camp in Esslingen where John attended Latvian grammar school, became a member of the scout troop, and participated in organized sports.
In early 1949, John’s family received sponsorship from the Lutheran World Federation Resettlement Service. August of 1949, they arrived in the United States with work and shelter offered on a farm in Simonsville, Vermont. There John attended school in Chester, Vermont while his family worked on the farm.
With unsustainability in Vermont, John’s aunt, Anna Libants, relocated the family to Unity, Maryland to continue farm work. John attended school, worked alongside his father on the farm during the week and volunteered at a local restaurant in Wheaton, Maryland named “Town and Country.”
In 1952, John’s family relocated to Willimantic, Connecticut to join a large Latvian community while John stayed in Maryland to finish school. John graduated high school, obtained his U.S. citizenship on June 15, 1954, and enlisted in the U.S. Army. After serving, John went on to Clemson University where he obtained his bachelor's degree and met the love of his life, Johnnie Burden. John married in 1960 and became a textile chemist for Burlington Industries. John and Johnnie were married for fifty-five years until her death in 2015.
A graveside service will be held at 12:00pm, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at New Silver Brook Cemetery, Anderson, S.C. Rev. Bryan Apinis will officiate.
The family will speak to attendees following the service.
The Standard Cremation & Funeral Center is serving the Apinis family.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com.
THE STANDARD CREMATION & FUNERAL CENTER, ANDERSON, S.C