Valdis Ragainis

All who knew Valdis “Val” Ragainis would agree that he was the life of the party wherever he went. He was a free spirit who was a man of honor and integrity with a deep devotion to his family and friends. Val loved a good party and kicking back with a good drink since he fully believed in savoring each moment he was given. A loving husband and father, he witnessed his family tree blossom to include grandchildren who were his greatest source of pride and joy. A longtime resident of the community he loved, Val was a stranger to none and a friend to all. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

The first half of the 1940s were a time of great unrest throughout much of Europe as WWII was a harsh reality. Latvia was first occupied by the Soviets in 1940 and later overtaken by the Germans only to fall into the hands of the Soviets again. With all of the unrest and turmoil, numerous Latvian citizens were fleeing the country in all directions. It was during this volatile time that Janis & Anna (Varite) Ragainis were blessed with the birth of a healthy baby boy on March 9, 1944, in Valmiera, Latvia. They named him Valdis, and when he was just six months old his family walked out of Latvia to Germany and then lived in a displaced persons camp there. In search of a better life, their family came into the United States through Ellis Island in 1950.

The Ragainis family initially settled in Indiana where Val’s father and brother worked off their sponsorship fees, and it was about 1953 when they made their way to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Val spent the remainder of his formative years. Once there his father worked at a local paper company while his mother worked at Jolly Kids and later for a Catholic Church. Val became a naturalized citizen and was a typical young boy of his generation. He was a bustle of activity as he was a Scout, participated in Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Activities, and attended local schools. While a student at Kalamazoo Central High School he played football and tennis.

After graduating in 1962, Val attended Parsons Business School and earned a degree in business administration and computer programming in 1970. His education took a bit longer than is customary as he enlisted in the Army in 1966. Val was stationed in Oakland, California, as a specialist with the reenlistment section until April of 1968 when he was transferred to Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1968 he was sent to Vietnam and stationed at Quang Tri near the Demilitarized Zone.

With his military duties fulfilled, Val returned to Southwest Michigan in 1969 and went to work for Fonda in Three Rivers. When the plant closed, he was employed by General Motors in Grand Rapids, which later became Lear, where he worked as a shift supervisor. He was always willing to work hard, and he was well liked by his fellow co-workers, employees, and bosses alike. He officially retired in 2008.

As his family and friends can attest, Val was always on the move. He filled his life with so many amazing experiences like going to the World’s Fair with a friend, playing basketball on Latvian sports teams and an Army team.As someone who loved watching sports he also loved going to Pistons and Lions games. Val was into sports himself and was a talented bowler who won KABC’s handicap doubles with his brother, Otis. He later gave up bowling for golf. He was a member at Gull Lake Country Club and Lake Doster Golf Club. Val enjoyed sports cars, especially convertibles and currently owned a 2012 Camaro. He also enjoyed playing Blackjack, especially in Las Vegas, and he was known for kicking back with a drink. In fact, when he was a kid Val confiscated a couple of bottles of the alcohol that his dad kept in a large wooden trunk in the basement. His mother was on to him and ended up chasing him down the street with a broom! Involved in his community, Val belonged to the Elks at one time and was currently a member of Otsego VFW post #3030. When it came to music he liked classic rock, and since he “had his connections,” his sons’ friends wondered if he was in the Mafia at times.

Known as a gentle giant, Val Ragainis had a heart of gold. He could be demanding, but he was also loyal, giving, and loving. His devotion to his family was unending, and his zest for life was contagious. Although life will never be the same without Val here, the lives of numerous others will be forever changed because of his touch.

Val Ragainis, of Plainwell, died on October 7, 2014, at the Kairos Dwelling. A military service will be held at Ft. Custer National Cemetery; 15501 Dickman Rd, Augusta on Tuesday, October 14 at 2:00. A celebration of life gathering will be held at the Lake Doster Golf Club; 116 Country Club Blvd, Plainwell on Sunday, October 26 from 2:00 to 4:00. Val’s family includes his wife, Janet; children: Val (Melissa) Ragainis, Richard (Angela) Ragainis; 6 grandchildren: Natalie, Jossalyn, Vivienne, Heidi, Brady, Bentley; sister-in-law Ginny Ragainis as well as 3 nephews. Val was preceded in death by his brothers Uldis and Otis Ragainis. Please visit Val’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo and sign his memory book online. Memorial donations can be made to The Karios Dwelling, Otsego VFW Post 3030 or the WMU Gary Fund.