Sarkis "Sam" Kazarian

Sarkis Kazarian joined the Lord when he took his final flight west into the sunset on January 31, 2026. He was born in Racine, WI on May 3, 1931 and is a graduate of Horlick High School.

Upon high school graduation, he briefly worked at Young Radiator and joined the Army National Guard. Shortly after, he joined SC Johnson Wax. He learned of an opportunity to become an Air Force pilot, passed the exam and off he went to pursue his life-long passion of flying and other adventures. While stationed in the Netherlands and Germany he flew the F-100, a fighter-pilot's dream plane. He also served as the aviation liaison while working in an underground facility. While in the Air Force, at the request of various countries, he would support missions throughout Europe. Once his active military commitment was completed, he, his wife, and 1-year old son returned to Racine, WI in 1960.

Sarkis had the good fortune of returning to his previous job at Johnson Wax. He was recommended to the company's aviation department by his supervisor and began using his aviation training. He eventually retired as the company's Aviation Manager & Chief Pilot while continuing to serve in the Milwaukee-based Air National Guard and retiring as the rank of Major. Sarkis continued to fly part-time for other various corporations. Sarkis and his wife eventually moved to Naples, FL where they made many friends and were active in the Armenian church in the community.

In Racine, he raised three children and became an active member of St. Mesrob Armenian Church. He and his wife would also volunteer for the week-long Armenian youth camp (Hye Camp). Sarkis will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, and love-of-travel, where his wife was always close by in the activities.

Sarkis married the love of his life on September 20, 1957. It is said there was never a dull moment between him and his Nancy after 69 years of marriage. Sarkis is preceded in death by brothers George, Peter (Sosi) and Jack (Pam) Kazarian and parents Dorothy & Kaiser Kazarian. He is survived by son Kaiser Kazarian (Gay Derderian), daughter Holly Dadekian (Robert), and daughter Carol Cariello (Steve). He is further survived by grandchildren Jonathan (Anne) Dadekian, Joyce (Damon) Fereshetian, and great grandchildren Joel and Alina Fereshetian, along with Aileen, Samuel, and Philip Dadekian, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation & Funeral services will be on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at St. Mesrob Armenian Church located at 4605 Erie St, Racine, WI. Visitation will be from 9:30 – 10:30 am with funeral services to begin at 10:30 am. Interment will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to St. Mesrob Armenian Church https://www.stmesrobchurch.org/.

You sheltered me from harm

Kept me warm, kept me warm

You gave my life to me

Set me free, set me free

The finest years I ever knew

Were all the years I had with you

And I would give anything I own

I'd give up my life, my heart, my home

I would give everything I own

Just to have you back again

You taught me how to love

What it's of, what it's of

You never said too much

But still you showed the way

And I knew from watching you

Nobody else could ever know

The part of me that can't let go

And I would give anything I own

I'd give up my life, my heart, my home

I would give everything I own

Just to have you back again

Is there someone you know

Your loving them so

But taking them all for granted?

You may lose them one day

Someone takes them away

And they don't hear the words you long to say

I would give anything I own

I'd give up my life, my heart, my home

I would give everything I own

Just to have you back again

Just to touch you once again

Source: LyricFind

Songwriter: David Gates

High Flight

By John Gillespie Magee Jr.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air ....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew—

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.