George Prieditis

Mr. George Juris Prieditis, age 85, passed away October 2, 2026, in Grand Rapids, MI. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, October 15 at 3 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of the Dunes (717 Sheldon Road, Grand Haven, MI 49417). The Memorial Service will also be live streamed on the church’s YouTube channel (www.umcdunes.org) for anyone who is unable to attend.

Memorials in memory of George may be directed to Special Olympics or the Bucs Care Food Pantry at Grand Haven High School. You may sign his online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com. Arrangements by The VanZantwick Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 620 Washington Avenue, Grand Haven, MI 49417.

George was born in the village of Skaņkalne, Latvia March 21, 1941, to Voldemars and Austra (Rinmanis) Prieditis. George and his family escaped Latvia in 1944 during World War II, living in refugee camps throughout Germany until they emigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1949, where he spent the rest of his adolescence. In 1962, he accepted a scholarship to play football and run track at the University of Dubuque in Iowa.

While attending college, George met and fell in love with Dianne Clark, and they were married August 6, 1966. After teaching in Dubuque and then living in Iowa City while pursuing their Master’s degrees in Education at the University of Iowa, George accepted a teaching position in 1970 with the Hopkins Public School District, beginning what would become a life-long career in education and coaching in Minnesota.

He taught Physical Education in elementary, junior high and high school and coached multiple sports at all levels, including many of his own children’s extracurricular teams throughout the years. George loved teaching kids and believed everyone should have a path to physical activity, regardless of ability. He was passionate about the importance of staying healthy through exercise and lived that philosophy throughout his own life.

Beyond teaching, he also served the Minnetonka-Hopkins Parks and Recreation Department in various leadership roles and when the school year was out of session, his zeal for staying active carried into his summer jobs as well. For many years, he managed “Shady Oak Beach” in Minnetonka, MN and helped run a seasonal corn detasseling crew near Cedar Rapids for Pioneer Seed Company.

George especially loved watching Westerns and sports-themed movies. He also enjoyed taking cross-country motorcycle trips with fellow teacher-friends, always coming home with colorful travel stories.

He became an avid reader of spy novels and legal thrillers, and could often be found devouring the newspaper, especially relishing the comics.

He remained active by coaching, substitute teaching, refereeing, riding his bike, and going for long walks well into his later years. His passion for education, athletics, and an active lifestyle was foundational to who he was, and it later became the bedrock of his connection with his grandchildren as he enjoyed watching their interests in sports and the arts unfold.

George and Dianne enjoyed a fun, full, and highly social life together with a wide circle of friends. They loved to go dancing and play cards, and their home of roughly 50 years on Lotus Lake in Chanhassen, MN was considered a warm, open-door haven for many and a treasured venue for countless parties and get-togethers.

George was very active in the Latvian-American community in Minneapolis and forged deep, familial bonds within that network which provided him a sense of family and connection to his cultural traditions while living over a thousand miles from his own parents and siblings. George was a devoted roadie for Dianne and supported her in countless musical commitments and events, often becoming an honorary member of the casts and choirs she directed over the years in Minnesota and, more recently, Michigan.

George is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Dianne; his children, Bradley (Angela) Prieditis of Grand Haven, MI, Mara (Graig) Domanski of Somerset, NJ, and Michelle Prieditis of Baltimore, MD; his grandchildren, Carter (Ella) Prieditis, Ava Prieditis, Nadia Prieditis, Evija Domanski, Laela Domanski, Indra Domanski, and Wilhelmina Holden; his brother, Valdis Prieditis; and his sister-in-law, Lois (Arden) Shindoll. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Dace Prieditis.