Daila Z. Aploks-Pone

Formerly of Seattle, passed away on Thursday, March 6, 2014 in Kalamazoo MI at age 92. Daila was born in Riga, Latvia on January 8, 1922 to the late Alfreds and Zelma (Jirgensons) Andersons. She spent her childhood in Sigulda, Latvia with her parents; where they owned and operated their own restaurant. Daila graduated from Sigulda High School and then started her nursing education at Riga Nursing School. In 1943, the Soviet Union started its occupation of Latvia and then as the German's repulsed them, Daila was drafted as a nurse to Germany, via Denmark. In Denmark she worked in a hospital caring for orphans. Later she was transferred back to Germany. Daila's parents were also taken to Germany, but were later returned to Latvia by the advancing Soviet troops. She never saw her father again and did not see her mother again until 1960 when Zelma came to live with them in the U.S. After the war, Daila worked in Wurtzburg, Germany at the Displaced Persons Camp Hospital. There she met her future husband, Krists Aploks. They were married in 1948. Her eldest son, Eriks, was born in Germany in 1950. In 1951 the family emigrated to U.S. via Ellis Island; where they initially settled in New York City. Shortly after their arrival to the States, Daila's husband was separated from her because of emigration health issues. He was transferred to Saranac Lake Sanitarium to be treated for Tuberculosis. This left Daila alone with her young son for 18 months. Due to these circumstances, she was not able to work as a nurse and took up work as a housekeeper and office clerk. Having completed treatment, her husband was reunited with her and in 1955 their second son, Bruno, was born. Daila and her husband both worked very hard to ensure a quality education for both her sons. This culminated in Eriks graduating from college and becoming an Engineer and Bruno completing Medical School and working as a surgeon. Once their children were grown the Aploks moved to Seattle, WA. Daila's husband, Krists, passed away in 1986. On November 3, 2001, she married Dr. Janis Pone of Kalamazoo, who survives. Also surviving are her sons, Eriks (June) Aploks and Dr. Bruno (Dr. Dana Zacharewicz) Aploks; grandchildren, Larisa, Krists, Kaija and Stasia; step-children, Dr. Arnis (Diana) and Martis (Cassandra) Pone and step-grandchildren, Nikolajs, Stefan, Laura and Karina Pone and Ryan Laverty.