Dzidra Spielberg

Dzidra was born on October 6, 1932 in Baldone, Latvia. Within the first year of Dzidra’s birth, her father began a bus service between Baldone and Latvia’s capitol city of Rīga. As a result, her parents lived in both cities, where Dzidra grew up. A live-in governess, who also taught Dzidra to speak German, provided several years of Dzidra’s education. Dzidra was an only child.

Dzidra and her parents fled Latvia in 1944 as the Soviet Army drew near. They

spent her 12th birthday in the free city of Danzig, Germany (now Gdansk, Poland). They lived five years in displaced persons camps in German safe zones before being approved for emigration to the United States. They dearly desired to return to their Latvian homeland, but knew from rare news sources that their lives would be at risk from their new Soviet rulers. They boarded a ship to the United States of America in mid-September 1949, arriving in New York City nine days later. Dzidra was 16 years old.

They settled in Lansing, Michigan, thanks to their sponsor, the Reo Motor Company. Dzidra’s father ordered bus engines from the company as part of his bus service business in Rīga, Latvia. Dzidra finished her secondary schooling at Eastern High School, Lansing during her early years in Lansing. During this time, Dzidra and her parents found other immigrants from Latvia and other European countries. Many became lifelong friends.

Dzidra married Gunnar Spielberg on September 12, 1951 in East Lansing, Michigan. They lived in one or two homes before moving to Okemos, Michigan in 1955, where Gunnar had built the first stage of the home that he and Dzidra lived in until January 2024. They had two boys by that time, John and Andy (Jānis and Andris in Latvian).

During the 1960s, Gunnar had started a homebuilding business, and Dzidra took care of the household/kids, while also providing accounting, licensed real estate, and interior decorating services for the business. During this period, Dzidra also decided to study anthropology at Michigan State University, where she was able to enter a paper in the Honors College Essays 1966-67 publication. She was also inducted into the oldest liberal arts and sciences honor society in America, Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776. They retired from their building business in the 1990s.

During retirement, Dzidra and Gunnar traveled a lot, including Latvia, Philippines, and around the continental United States. They also built and lived in two vacation homes, Drummond Island first and then Crystal Mountain.

Dzidra is survived by her two sons, John (Neneng Laurencia) of East Lansing MI and Andris of East Lansing MI; by her four grandchildren, Larisa (Craig) Joeright of Lake Orion MI, Jonars Spielberg of Boston MA, Ēriks Puķīte of Milwaukee WI, and Arija Spielberg of Lansing MI; by her three great grandchildren, Jenavieve Rose Joeright (12), Josalyn Veronica Joeright (12), and Tristan Gunars Joeright (8) of Lake Orion MI; by her nephews on Gunnar’s side, Alnis (Daina) Cers of Chicago IL, and Kalvis (Elisa) Cers of Western Springs IL, and niece on Gunnar’s side Esther Lily Freimanis (Špīlbergs) of Mashpee MA.

Dzidra was pre-deceased by her father Raimunds Liepkalns, her mother Alvīne (born Grunde) Liepkalns, and her husband Gunnar Spielberg.

The Spielberg family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to Brookdale Assisted Living/ Memory Care staff of Haslett, Michigan for taking such good care of Dzidra since January 2024 and Gunnar since December 2023. And, a special thank you to the Hospice of Lansing for their care of both Dzidra and Gunnar during their final days.

A celebration of Dzidra’s life event will take place in the spring or summer of 2025. It will be a time to remember both Gunnar and Dzidra.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the nonprofit Hospice of Lansing, 3186 Pine Tree Road, Ste. 1, Lansing, MI 48911, https://hospiceoflansing.org/giving/ in memory of Dzidra.