Vladimir Khailo, 81, of Ligonier, Ind., passed away at 6:30 a.m. June 8, 2013, in Elkhart, Ind.

He was born April 15, 1932, in the former Soviet Union. He married Maria Khlistun in 1954. She survives.

Vladimir was raised in a Christian family and in 1957 he received Christ as his personal Savior, and from that day on he committed his life to the Lord. Vladimir and his family were well known to Christian Solidarity International.

After coming to America, Vladimir traveled around the world preaching the gospel and witnessing about the persecution of Christians in the USSR. In his transition to heaven, he left his family with what they felt was an example of unwavering faith in Christ. His words in the end were, “…Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life,” Revelations 2:10.

He is survived by his wife; daughters: Lydia (Iouri) Petrenko, Galina (Eugene) Andreyev, Marchella (Igor) Trotsiouk, Esfir (Stanislav) Kolesnitchenko; sons: Valentin (Ludmila) Khailo, Anatoliy (Tatiana) Khailo, Vladimir (Tatiana) Khailo, Michael Khailo, Alexandr (Svetlana) Khailo, Joseph (Irina) Khailo, Noah (Lena) Khailo, Ioan Khailo, David (Larisa) Khailo, Jacob (Natasha) Khailo, and Daniel (Natalie) Khailo; 46 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Pavel Khailo.

Visitation will take place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, June 10, at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Wakarusa, Ind. The funeral service will be at 12 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Olive Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to the family.