Tributes

Vladimir Petrovich Golikov died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday October 30, 2022 at the age of 71. He was preceded in death by his father Piotr and his mother Valentina and adopted brother Grigoriy. He left behind his wife Tatyana of nearly 50 years, his sister Larisa of Oklahoma, his four daughters Yelena Galante and husband Michael of Salem OR, Svetlana Kiss and husband Zoltan of Ottawa Canada, Vera Golikova-Gonzalez and husband Alexzander of Salem OR, and Olga and Joshua Miller of Keizer OR, and son Aleksey Golikov and wife Brie of Tualatin, OR, as well as 19 grandchildren (Samuel, Victoria, David, Nicholas, Jonathan, Veronica, Olivia, Elizabeth, Abigail, Timothy, Alexandra, Adriana, Julia, Amelia, Joseph, Nikolai, Avalina, Svetlana, and Jordan) Vladimir was born on February 21, 1951 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia in the former Soviet Union. An orphan, he was adopted by his mother Valentina from the city orphanage and later, by Piotr, who married his mother and together they raised him and his sister Larisa, whom they also adopted. They adopted Grigoriy as an older teen. They were a loving family and they became believers in Jesus Christ in the former Soviet Union, where Christian faith and practice was generally illegal. He always had an interest in numbers, and pursued bookkeeping after completing middle school. He was referred to a job in Siberia after his studies and had to leave his parents at age 16. He worked at remote communist farm and then was drafted into the army where he served mandatory service of two years in Germany. When Vladimir returned from the service, he met Tatyana who was hired to help paint his parents’ house. He also completed a crane operator course and went on to great success in that career, winning regional competitions. His hobbies were watching sports and working second jobs to support the family together with Tatyana. They raised five children, all of whom know the Lord Jesus. In May of 1992, Vladimir and Tatyana moved the family to the United States after being granted a refugee status due to his parents’ persecution for their faith in the former Soviet Union. They settled in Woodburn, Oregon. He worked hard to learn English and obtain his commercial truck driver license. He worked as a warehouse worker and truck driver for Staples for over 18 years, when he retired. He rejoiced at weddings of his five children and the births of all the grandchildren and he delighted in the many family occasions to celebrate birthdays and different milestones. He had had some health setbacks like diabetes, work-related injuries, two heart attacks and an open-heart surgery as well as a battle with cancer, but he tried to stay active even to the very last day, attending the gym and working in his backyard. He loved fixing things and helping family, friends and neighbors in their projects with both advice and generous assistance. He was active in his church Russian Gospel Church of Hubbard, where he’s been a member from 1992 and attended every service unless he was away or at the hospital. He loved ice cream and jokes and open-air BBQs with family. His backyard was his sanctuary and even though they have had some wonderful family vacations, his favorite place was his backyard, surrounded by children and grandchildren, and enjoying the produce of his and Tatyana’s garden. He will be missed so much by everyone who knew him. In liue of flowers and other gifts, those who wish may contribute to the gofundme campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/hskjj-medical-and-funeral-expenses The funeral service will be on Friday November 11, 2022 at 12pm at the Cornwell Colonial Chapel at 390 N 2nd St, Woodburn, OR 97071. The internment will take place at the Belle Passi Cemetery following the funeral service.

Tributes

Vladimir Petrovich Golikov

February 21, 1951 - October 30, 2022