Dainis Zelenko, age 78 of Hibbing and formerly Tower – Lake Vermilion, died Friday, June 23, 2017 in his home surrounded by his family. He was born May 31, 1939 in Ventspils, Latvia, the son of Peter and Vera (Rieksts) Zelenko. He was a 1957 graduate of Proviso East High School in Chicago, earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Loyola University in Illinois in 1961, and earned his Masters Degree in Industrial Management from Lake Forest College, Ill in 1964. He married Joann Ruth Strickler on Jan. 9, 1976. Dainis has lived in Chicago, IL, Mississippi, Denver, CO, Lake Vermilion, Tower, and most recently in Hibbing. He was a chemist, a resort owner, a metallurgist with Minntac, and was a chemist with Johns-Manville Corp. He was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Virginia, Lettonia Student Korporacia (Academic Fraternity), and was a volunteer firefighter/EMT with the Greenwood Township Fire Department for 18 years. Dainis enjoyed woodworking, gardening, fishing, and cars.

Dainis is survived by his wife: J. Ruth of Hibbing; sons: Gregg (Cindy)Zelenko of Farmington, AR, Scott Zelenko of Hibbing, and Juris Zelenko of Duluth; cousins: Dzintra Rieksts of Ellensburg, WA, and Gunars (Carmen) Rieksts of Kennewick WA; and 4 grandchildren; Chelsie Zelenko, Skylar (Thomas) Rossi, Aija Zelenko, and Spencer Zelenko, extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his first wife: Zigrida Puce Zelenko; and his parents.

Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2017 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Virginia. Pastor Don Stauty will officiate. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church.

The family wishes to thank the Essentia East Range Hospice Team for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church or to Essentia East Range Hospice.

Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. To share condolences online, please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com .