Lija K. Romence

Lija Kuplis Romence was born in Latvia on January 12, 1942. The country, in the midst of World War II, was occupied by the Soviets at the time. The German invasion of the country in 1944 allowed Lija, then age two, and her family to escape to Germany where they lived in a displaced persons' camp for the next six years. When she was eight, in the summer of 1950, Lija and her family emigrated to the United States via Ellis Island. The Kuplis family was sponsored by the minister of Zion Lutheran Church in Bay City, Michigan. Lija and her two sisters attended grade school at Zion Lutheran, then attended T. L. Handy High School where Lija excelled academically and played on the school's first women's basketball team.  She continued her studies at the University of Michigan.

Lija met her future husband, Jack Romence, in the UM Medical School Library. They married after graduation on June 12, 1965 and moved to Grand Rapids. Lija taught high school English and Jack did an internship and residency in OB/GYN. They lived their married life in Grand Rapids, except for two years when Jack was in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. 

After retirement, Lija and Jack traveled extensively and visited all seven continents. In later years, they enjoyed many river cruises in Europe as well as ocean cruises.

Lija was generous and gregarious with a zest for life. She loved her family and many friends as well as travel, good books, watching murder mysteries, and checking out the shopping channels. She appreciated a "good box" and often uttered, "don't throw that away, that's still good."

Lija is survived by her husband of 59 years, Jack Romence, MD, her daughter Kristina Romence, of Grand Rapids, Michigan and her sister Margareta (Kenneth) Chmiel of Bend, Oregon.  She was preceded in death by her parents Hermanis and Milda (Zanders) Kuplis, aunt Elza Zanders, sister Aija and brother-in-law Andrejs Straumanis, and her son Karl.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.

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