Peter Golikov

Peter Golikov was born in the small village of Olhovka in the Bryansk region in the former Soviet Union on April 20, 1925. He was the middle son born to parents Viktor and Vasilisa.

Peter finished 7th grade when the war between Germany and Soviet Union began in 1941 and he could not continue his education.

Peter was required to join the military in the fall of 1943 at the age of 17. By the order of Stalin young soldiers like Peter were sent to Siberia for military training. After 6 months of training he was deployed to Lithuania  to fight in the war.

On August 14, 1944 during infantry combat near Keningsberg, Germany Peter was wounded in the battle. After months of recovery he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during that attack.

In 1945 Peter was deployed to the war with Japan. After the war Peter continued to perform his military duty in Kiyiv and was decommissioned from service in 1950.

The parents of Peter were evangelical believers, and Peter himself was baptized in an evangelical church “Svyatoshyno” in Kiyiv in 1952. In that church the same year he fell in love with Vera Kaplin and they got married. They lived together for 68 years and had 3 children, 5 grand-children and 7 great-grandchildren.

Peter was a hard working man and a caring provider for his family. He was very kind hearted, quick to sympathize, and their house was always open to anyone in need. He worked as a bus driver until his retirement in 1985. Then he discovered the new hobby of gardening and taking care of trees and flowers.

In 1997 Peter and Vera moved to United States of America. In the States Peter did things he loved. He planted trees which would produce amazing fruit and took amazing care of his garden. He also spent time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom he loved dearly.

Peter will always be in our hearts and we always will miss his kind and welcoming smile.

Services are private.