Velta Brikmanis

Velta Amalija Brikmanis 100, closed her eyes for eternity in the home she shared with her late husband of 59 years on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Born in Rauna, Latvia, March, 1915, to Julijs and Anna Viba, she lost her father during WWI in 1918. She married Arvids Brikmanis in 1938, and with son Indulis and her mother, the family fled Latvia to Germany in 1944 during WWII. Sons Uldis and Imants joined the family in Germany, and in 1949, the family immigrated to the United States by way of crossing the Atlantic Ocean aboard an American transport ship, the USS General Sturgis, which had been commissioned to transport refugees to Ellis Island. Their first home in America was in Inverness, Mississippi, soon after in Indianapolis, where daughter Ausma joined the family. Velta retired from Carson Manufacturing Company in 1978. Velta had a passion for the Lord, gardening, needlework and her family, particularly her grand and great-grand children. She is preceded in death by her mother, Anna Viba, her husband Arvids, son Indulis and great-grand son Evan Spears; survived by sons Uldis and Imants, daughter Ausma Mackus (Karlis), daughter-in-law Arija S. Brikmanis, grand-daughters Anita Spears (Scott), Daina Cloer (Mike), Karina Brikmanis, Laura Brikmanis and Kristi Schroeder (Chris), grandsons Krisjanis Mackus and Eriks Mackus, and five great-grand children. The family wishes to thank the loving and caring staff at IU Health Methodist Hospice for all of the care and concern shown to Velta during this time. Services will be held Monday, June 22 at 11am at the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Indianapolis, 801 W. 73rd Street, Indianapolis, with visitation there from 10am until the service time. Interment will follow in Floral Park Cemetery. Arrangements by: Flanner and Buchanan- Broad Ripple. www.flannerbuchanan.com