Gunars

My uncle passed away today, aged 96. He was the last of the Starks.



Gunars suffered from a heart condition for many years but still battled on regardless, going about daily routines. Every few months we would chat on the phone - he would share some of his memories about his sister, my mum. I would also get some insights into their lives as youngsters in Latvia and hear some tales about the family history. He grew up on the family farm with his younger brother and sister in Latvia. The family suffered a communist occupation and then he got conscripted in to the german army to fight on the eastern front in the winter! He did remarkably well to survive it all. I will miss our chats, but I will remember his stories, his smile, his chuckle, his accent - just like mum's. Gunars was a proud Latvian, generous, good humoured, incredibly resilient. May he now rest in peace.