Obituary of Imants Kalnins

Kalnins~Imants of West Babylon, NY died of heart failure with his family at his side in the wee hours of Friday, April 6, 2018. He was the beloved stepfather of Ilze and Lize Thielmann and the late Maija Thielmann, cherished husband of the late Maija Kalnins, devoted grandfather of Malcolm Thielmann Thompson, valued father-in-law of Aitken Thompson, and dear brother of the late Daina Cherepes. Imants is also survived by his long-time business partner and friend, Mike Warren, protégé Stephanie Suttmeier, and many other close friends and several loving family members. Born in Riga, Latvia, during World War II, Imants emigrated to the United States as a small child. He attended New Brunswick High School and Rutgers University. A long-time employee of Bristol-Myers Squibb in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Imants left that company in 1979 when he met and married Maija and moved to West Babylon, New York to be with her and her family. He became a dealer in historic military collectibles, which was his passion until the day he passed away. Imants was a selfless person who helped everyone he came in contact with, taking in his wife's nephew, a runaway teenager, and several other people in need of a home over the years. His generosity and kindness endeared him to family and strangers alike. He will be greatly missed. Reposing at the Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons West Islip Funeral Home, 1225 Montauk Hwy. (1/4 mile west of the Robert Moses Cswy.). Funeral service will be held at the funeral home, Saturday 12:30 PM. Interment at Pinelawn Memorial Park, Pinelawn, LI. Visiting Saturday 11:30 AM until 12:30 PM. WWW.CHAPEYFAMILY.COM