Druvvaldis "Dru" Liepins

Druvvaldis (Dru) Liepins, 86, of Dublin, OH passed away peacefully on September 7, 2022. Dru was born in Latvia to the late Karlis and Elizabete Liepins. During World War II his family left their homeland eventually spending 5 years in Displaced Persons Camps in Germany. His family moved to the United States and ultimately settled in Grand Haven, MI. He graduated from Grand Haven High School and then continued his education at Western Michigan University where he graduated with a degree in Printing Management. It was in college that he met his future wife, Maija. After college he served in the Army during the Vietnam War. As soon as he left active duty he married Maija, and together they had two children. He worked in the printing industry for over 40 years in Michigan, West Virginia, and Virginia. He believed in staying active and had a passion for playing tennis. He played tennis from middle school until a week before his passing. He was an avid sports fan who faithfully rooted for the Detroit Lions and University of Michigan.

Family was always important to Dru. The family trips over the years included 2-week adventures out west, and down the east coast that would consist of seeing the beauty of the United States but also incorporated visits to relatives and friends. There were many other shorter trips, including to Grand Haven and Kalamazoo to spend treasured times with family. As the kids grew, more time was spent attending his son’s tennis games and his daughter’s volleyball games. The best times though were visiting his granddaughters! Watching them grow and attending their activities gave him an opportunity to take lots of photos and share in the fun.

His retirement years were filled with his own tennis, as well as his granddaughters’ band concerts, marching band performances, and track and field competitions. He and Maija drove down to Florida three separate times to watch each granddaughter participate in a parade down Disney World’s Main Street with the high school marching band.

Dru is survived by loving wife, Maija, his daughter Monika (Brian) Winer of Hilliard, Ohio; his son Druvis of Seattle, Washington; and granddaughters Matelin, Gwendolyn, and Karina Winer. He will also be dearly missed by many extended family, especially sister Inese Zitner, Liene (Jim) Rava-Kalal, Velta (Lauro) Torres, Fran Rava, Inta Grace, nieces and nephews and his friends, particularly from church and his tennis buddies.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday June 24, 2023 from 2-5pm with Military Honors at 2pm at SCHOEDINGER DUBLIN; 5980 Perimeter Drive Dublin, Ohio 43017.