Jonas Lapėnas

Jonas Lapėnas (5 August 1891 – 27 June 1937) was a Lithuanian businessman and activist of the Lithuanian Nationalist Union. He was director of the meat processing and export company Maistas and chairman of the cooperative union Lietūkis. He was chairman of the Nationalist Union in 1929–1931.

Born to a family of poor farm workers, Lapėnas did not receive any formal education. He became involved with trade and cooperatives from an early age. Acquaintance with Vladas Mironas, a close friend of President Antanas Smetona, helped Lapėnas launch his career within the Nationalist Union. He became chairman of the union, but was demoted due to disagreements with Smetona over the party's role in the Lithuanian government.

In September 1935, Lapėnas was arrested on corruption charges because Maistas sold meat to a shop owned by his brother at prices far below the market. District court sentenced him to eight years in prison and ordered him to pay a restitution of 500,000 Lithuanian litas. He appealed and was posthumously acquitted by the Supreme Tribunal of Lithuania.

Biography Early life Jonas Lapėnas was born on 5 August 1891 in near Pasvalys in present-day northern Lithuania. His parents were likely poor farm workers at the which was owned by Otto von der Ropp.