Gunis Klavins Obituary (1931 - 2021) - Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Born to Augusts and Laura Klavins in Talsi Latvia. During WW II his family escaped to Sweden, travelled on to Canada, then settled in the Boston area in the early 1950s. During his life in Boston, Gunis worked as a machinist, switching companies only a few times. In his spare time he worked in the car racing field, meeting Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. He specialized in custom roll cages, saying he mustve been pretty good as no one ever died in one of his cars...! He owned a few nice vehicles in his day as well, some may be seen in the photo gallery. Gunis was an avid gardener and was particularly proud of his flowers and vegetable patches - especially some of his famously awkward looking carrots. The Annual Pulling of the Carrots was much anticipated by the grand nieces and nephews after our large family Thanksgiving gatherings ... We have supplied a few photos of these unique veggies that really deserve a second look!! The family also enjoyed many decades of summers in Meredith NH in the cottages that Gunis and his parents and siblings built themselves from the ground up. Gunis bragged that he had swam in Lake Winnipesaukee at least once for over 60 years. And the occasional martini May or May Not have inspired the vision of a moose traveling through the property. He enjoyed many outdoor adventures as well.. traveling, skiing, hiking, and taking car rides to the Cape for breakfast! After selling the large Victorian homestead a few years ago, Gunis moved in to live with his sister Indra. They often had many a spirited discussion about who could eat salt and who couldnt, how to grow a proper tomato, etc. When Indra passed away last July, Gunis moved to Chelmsford to be cared for in the home of his niece Roberta, her husband Paul, and their daughter Diena. He never failed to entertain us with his old Latvian fables, stories from his travels, and some crazy escapades from his younger days... some of which may be seen in the following memories. Gunis is survived and missed by his brother, Ivars Klavins, niece and goddaughter Jessica Klavins Lespier, his nieces Sandra Bergs Hopkins, Roberta Platais Witts, Cristina Winsor, his nephews Art Bergs, Edgar Platais, and David Klavins, many loving grand nieces and nephews, his dearest friend Cousin Bobby, and his four legged pal Jack. Gunis was predeceased by his brother Andy, his sister Indra Klavins Platais, his longtime love and companion Helen Kehoe, and was recently followed to heaven by his sister Dzidra Bergs.