Ilze Rader

Ilze Studins Rader, 77, of San Diego, CA, died Dec 3, 2022. Ilze was born in a refugee camp in Germany after her family left Latvia, just ahead of the invasion by the Soviet Union. Sponsored by the Lutheran church, the Stundins family immigrated through Ellis Island and settled in Des Moines, Iowa.

After graduating from Drake College with a degree in History, she joined the Peace Corps during the era of the war in Vietnam and served as an English teacher in Ethiopia where she met her husband of ten years, Robert Rader. After beginning her career as a technical writer in El Paso, Texas, she and Robert followed the aerospace industry to Huntsville, Alabama, where her children, James and David, were born, and then to New Jersey.

She worked as a nursing textbook editor in Philadelphia for over 25 years, always within walking distance of Washington Square and the Liberty Bell. Although she had to retire at an early age due to declining vision, Ilze remained an avid listener of audio books and was always a bright, positive, and interesting personality, who left those who talked with her happier and impressed with her insight.

She lived independently, together with her sister Maija, in Denver, Colorado until the last years of her life when health issues separated them. Afterwards, she moved to San Diego to live with family. Ilze always remained close with her sisters, Ruta Krumins and Maija Beck, who currently live in Des Moines.

Ilze was predeceased by her parents, Arvid and Anna Stundins. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law James & Tuy-Van and David & Caroline, her four grandchildren, and her loving sisters. An interment service will be held at Oralabor Cemetery on December 29, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ilze's name to the Macular Degeneration Association.

Print

Leave message