Austra Legzdins

Austra Legzdins Peteris Zirnis Austra Legzdins, 96, and her son, Peteris Zirnis, 64, both of N2027 Prospekt Blvd, Oostburg, died tragically in a house fire on Wednesday, January 28, 2009. Austra was born on June 5, 1912 in Bulduri, Latvia, the daughter of the late Jekabs and Helena (Feizaks) Bruvelis. She attended high school and college in Latvia. Austra and her sons came to the United States in 1950. She was a bookkeeper in the Chicago area most of her working life. Austra was a member of St. Peter Latvian Lutheran Church in Wooddale, IL. She was very proud of her heritage and was a teacher of Latvian culture, literature, and language in the Saturday and Summer Schools. She was an avid art collector, and enjoyed reading, documenting family history and heritage, gardening, and home decorating. She is survived by two sons, Andrejs (Rita) Jurevics of Latvia, and Juris (Ruta) Zirnis of Chicago; her daughter-in-law, Inta Zirnis of Oostburg; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Austra was preceded in death by her son, Peteris Zirnis; a grandson, three sisters, and two brothers. Peteris Zirnis was born on February 2, 1944 in Strenci, Latvia, the son of the late Vilis and Austra (Bruvelis) Zirnis. He graduated from Lane Technical High School in Chicago in 1961 and then attended several art schools. Peteris served in the US Army from 1963-66. He married the former Inta Baltmanis on December 2, 1966 in Chicago. Peteris worked as a commercial artist for the Sears Roebuck Co. for 22 years. For the past ten years he worked at Ongna Wood Products in Oostburg. Peteris enjoyed painting, sketching, wood carving, collecting old weapons, reading, history, basketball, cooking and gardening. He is survived by his wife, Inta of Oostburg; one daughter, Solveiga (David) Brunovskis of St. Charles, IL; one son, Nikolas Zirnis of Oak Park, IL; three grandchildren, Kriss, Sabine, and Mikelis Brunovskis; and two brothers, Andrejs (Rita) Jurevics of Latvia, and Juris (Ruta) Zirnis of Chicago. Peteris was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew. Funeral services for Austra and Peteris will be held at the Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg on Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 3 pm. Friends may call at the Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg on Sunday from 1 pm until the time of the service at 3 pm. Additional services will be held in Chicago later. Online condolences may be sent to www.wenigfuneralhome.com A memorial fund is being established in their names to further promote Latvian heritage and culture. The staff of the Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg (920-564-2771) is serving the Legzdins and Zirnis families.Service:Sunday, February 1, 2009