Andris Eglite, age 92, entered into eternal rest with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, July 16, 2026 surrounded by his family in Delavan, Wisconsin.
Andris is survived by his wife, Benita, Delavan; son, Mikels (Rachel) Eglite, Delavan; granddaughter, Tija Eglite, Madison, sister-in-law, Aina Eglite, Lake Forest; and numerous cherished nieces and nephews.
Andris is preceded in death by his parents; Janis and Wilhelmine (Saulite) Eglite; son, Martins Eglite; sister, Raita Brunovskis; and brother, Guntis Eglite.
Andris was born in Cesis, Latvia, on July 28, 1933, Andris' early life was marked by the tumult of World War II. In the late 1940's, to escape the advancing Soviet occupation, he and his family made the perilous journey to flee their beloved homeland. Andris spent the post-war years living in Displaced Persons (DP) camps in Germany, displaying a remarkable resilience and spirit that defined the rest of his life. Seeking freedom and a new beginning, his family immigrated to the United States with the help of Lutheran sponsors. Andris' life in America started from humble beginnings picking peaches in the hot sun of South Carolina to help repay his family's sponsors. Eventually, they would make their way to a Latvian community in Chicago, IL, where he continued to work 40 hours per week to earn money for the family while finishing his high school career at Lane Tech. Andris truly lived "The American Dream."
After serving in the US Army (peacetime), he married Benita Sirmbardis, on July 19, 1958, and they completed their family with two sons. Andris worked for the Rock Island, and then later, Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. With only a high school diploma and his quick wit, charm and professionalism, he went on to become the senior engineer for Railway Property Management Company, specializing in buying and selling railroad property. Andris fully embraced life in his adopted country while remaining a fiercely proud Latvian. He was a member of the Latvian Zion Lutheran Church, he encouraged his sons to embrace their religion and heritage by attending weekend and summer Latvian schools and camps, learning life skills through the Boy Scouts, participating in cultural events like the Latvian song and dance festivals, and vacationing together to take in the beautiful sites of America. Andris was known for his gentlemanly style and love of laughter, but also for his love of international football, where, completely out of character, he would often jump up and yell at the TV in his passion for the game.
In his spare time later in life, Andris found respite at the family's lakeside cottage in Delavan, WI, where he doted on his only grandchild, played endless fetch with family pets, worked his muscles splitting and stacking firewood, and, with his loving wife, Benita, by his side, chose to overcome brutal wartime memories with friends who chose to raise a toast to happiness and opportunity rather than dwell in the darkness of grief and despair. Andris passed away just 3 days shy of experiencing his remaining bucket list items: seeing Spain win the World Cup title in the United States, and raising one last toast to his 68th wedding anniversary with Benita.
Private Services will be held at a later date.
To leave an online condolence, please fill out your message in the box below. You will then be taken to another screen which you can leave your name and email (No website URL needed). Simply comment as a guest and your condolence will be posted.
