Zigrida Vande Giessen

Vande Giessen, Zigrida "Zig" Kalamazoo, Michigan Zigrida "Zig" Vande Giessen, after battling Alzheimer's, passed away peacefully in her Kalamazoo home on 3/18/22 with her loving husband Clare at her side. Zig was an only child, born on 1/7/43 in Daugavpils, Latvia to Anatolijs and Adele Mazurkevics. The family fled during WWII, eventually settling in Kalamazoo when she was 7 yrs old, where a Latvian community of refugees had been established. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central HS and attended WMU for 2 yrs. On 8/14/75, she married Clare Vande Giessen, the love of her life, sharing nearly 47 yrs together! She was an avid reader, devoted gardener, and loved traveling, especially to Europe and East Africa. Clare and Zig also enjoyed time in their cozy vacation home in Ft. Myers, FL. Zig is survived by her husband Clare, step-children Bill (Penny) Vande Giessen and Tamara (Scott) Rozankovich, step-grandchildren Jordan, Leyna (Luke), Bella, Justin (Jackie), and Lauren, as well as cousins in Canada and Latvia (and families), as well as countless friends. Visitation will be from 10-10:45am on Tuesday, April 5 with a memorial service to follow at 11am, both at the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kalamazoo, 122 Cherry Hill, 49006. A luncheon will follow next door at the Latvian Heritage Center. Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church or any favored garden societies. For more detailed info please see https://www.langelands.com/obituary/ZigridaZig-VandeGiessen