Maris Birznieks

Maris Birznieks, 71 from Detroit Lakes MN, passed away while on vacation in Pensacola, Florida on March 13, 2019.  Maris was born in Wurzburg, Germany on December 17, 1947 to Adolfs and Ausma (Kalnins) Birznieks. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1949 and grew up with his brothers, Uldis and Valdis in Webster, SD. He  graduated from Webster High School, and earned a  bachelors degree in business from the University of South Dakota. Maris married his hometown sweetheart, Barbara Hinderks on January 24, 1970 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Webster. To their union three children were  added; Jennifer, Kara, and Grant. They moved to Minneapolis and Maris worked as a Field Rep for Aetna Life & Casualty and Transamerica Insurance. In January 1974, they moved into their home on Long Lake, in Detroit Lakes where they raised their family and shared over 45 years of enjoyable lake living and beautiful sunsets.  While living in Detroit Lakes, Maris worked as an agent for Schiller Insurance, owned his own vending company and drove for Medi-Van. Maris had a laugh that filled the room and made everybody smile.  He had a passion for travel. When he wasn’t on the go enjoying new places and experiences, he was busy planning and preparing for the next adventure.  He visited nearly all of the National Parks and every state in the United States of America. This past summer he fulfilled his dream of traveling to his ancestral homeland, Latvia.   Maris was a collector at heart and took great pride in his many  collections from seashells to wine and corkscrews to baseball cards.  He also was an avid Bears and Cubs fan true to his teams no matter how the season was going! Maris is survived by his wife of 49 years, Barb, daughters; Jennifer (Dan) Eckmann of Paynesville, MN and Kara (Sam) Dendrinos of Naperville, IL and son; Grant (Kara) Birznieks of Rockford, MN.  Mother; Ausma Birznieks of Baxter, MN, Brothers; Uldis (Pat) Birznieks of East Gull Lake, MN and Valdis (Pat) Birznieks of  Aurora, CO, Mother-in-Law; Jo Hinderks of Detroit Lakes, MN, Brother-in-Laws; Randy Hinderks of Lamoille, NV and Doug (Diane) Hinderks of Duluth, MN. Grandchildren; Nolan and Anna Eckmann, Emma and Owen Dendrinos, Tessa,  Benjamin, and Josephine Birznieks. Also several nieces and nephews . He was preceded in death by his Father, Adophs Birznieks; Father-in-Law, Bob Hinderks, and Grandson, Jacob Birznieks.    Memorials preferred to continue supporting “Jacob’s  Playground”, a project that built a preschool playground in the community of Rockford, MN in honor of Maris’ grandson, Jacob Birznieks.