ALEKSIS, Gunars

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Gunars Aleksis. Gunars died peacefully in his sleep on May 15, 2022, in Parkland at the Gardens in Halifax. Gunars was born in Latvia on November 18, 1925. Like so many of his generation, his world was shaped by the upheaval of World War II. Life took him to Poland, Germany, England and finally to Canada in July 1951. He worked as a farm labourer, weaver, factory worker and eventually completed a college degree and worked in engineering and then in the “new” field of computers for industry. He raised his family on the West Island of Montreal, Que., with his wife, Zuze, who died in 2008. Gunars loved to sing and from an early age was an active member of various choirs and ensembles in Latvia, England, Montreal and Halifax as well as many happy years as a part of the Lakeshore Light Opera on the West Island. He was an avid tennis and chess player and had tremendous patience teaching anyone who wanted to learn. He was a quiet, kind and unstoppable man. Gunars will be remembered lovingly and profoundly missed by his children, Daina, David (Carol Lee Smith) and Martin (Johanna); grandchildren, Megan Ashworth Hartlen (Troy), Alexis Ashworth (Brian Elliott), Brendan Ashworth and Adam Aleksis (Ann); and great-grandchildren, Norah, Mason and River Hartlen, Cadence and Hazel Elliott; as well as his many relatives in Latvia including surviving siblings, Ojars Aleksis (Ilze) and Vija Leimane (Ilgavars); and their children. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations to the Lakeshore Light Opera Society at: treasurer@llo.org or a charity of your choice would be appreciated. Memorial services will be held at Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 2096 Windsor St., Halifax on Sunday, June 12th, at 2 p.m.

To the tune of “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” – Gilbert and Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance: He was the very model of a stoic, tender gentleman Skilled at things mathematical, musical, and physical Not a bad word about anything or anyone I can recall Cheered the things everyone would say or do no matter how big or small He was a caring loving father, son, and husband to our Zuze And a great grandfather, uncle, brother, and good neighbour too He was determined, happy, curious, and never was he blue He was the very model of a stoic, tender gentleman