Ara Artin Kaloustian

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ara Artin Kaloustian on July 30, 2025 at the age of 99. Ara was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 14, 1926 to Barsam and Azadouhe Kaloustian (both deceased). His wife of 69 years, Darleen (nee Johnson) and his sister, Sona Cobb also both predeceased him. He is survived by his children, Joan Kaloustian, Jane Szymanski, and David Kaloustian (Monde Muyangwa); his grandchildren, Megan Stevens (Jeff) and Inonge Kaloustian; his great grandchild, Hadley Stevens; and many other relatives and friends here and abroad.

After graduating from South Milwaukee High School, Ara volunteered and served as an airplane and engine mechanic in the Army Air Corps during World War II, at the end of which he was honorably discharged and awarded a commendation for meritorious service to our country. After the war, Ara attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison while working and putting himself through school. He took a few final classes to finish his Business degree at the UW extension in Milwaukee and it was there that he met the love of his life, Darleen. The two were married in 1951 and remained a devoted and loving couple ever after. Their marriage was truly a lovely thing to behold; Darleen thought Ara to be the best husband and father ever and Ara cherished and took wonderful care of Darleen and called her his “sunshine.” They were always there for each other through thick and thin. The two had many happy and blessed years together and were a perfect match.

Ara took a job as a purchasing agent at Nordberg in Milwaukee and soon after the children started coming: Joan in 1952, Jane in 1954, and David in 1960. Ara delighted in first-born Joan’s charming precociousness as a toddler and later in life took great pride in her career success. He expressed great admiration for Jane and her charity and community work and totally enjoyed Jane’s natural gift for telling hilarious stories. With David, he did all the “guy” things and was proud of David’s love of learning and his career as a teacher. Ara loved and treasured his children equally and unconditionally, gave of himself to them unstintingly, and supported and encouraged them unwaveringly. He was immensely proud of each of them and their accomplishments and he was always, always there for them. He taught them by example that family comes first and other important lessons about how to comport oneself in this life and for their part they worshipped the ground that he walked on. There are many wonderful fathers but there simply is no better father than Ara.

Ara was no stranger to adversity; soon after Jane was born he was stricken with polio and spent a long rehabilitation at the Veterans Hospital in Milwaukee. Of the 8 men in Ara’s ward, he was the only one who was able to walk out of the hospital under his own power. Ara worked hard at his rehab and one of his ward mates told Darleen that he often saw Ara exercising late at night while everyone else was asleep. His recovery from polio also fortified his religious faith and he became a steadfast and devoted presence at Trinity Lutheran Church in South Milwaukee, where he served as President of the Church, was lead planner on the building committee, and even taught Sunday school. But most important, Ara lived his faith through his actions and in the way he treated and uplifted others.

Ara had many hobbies and interests over the years, including hunting, fishing, dartball, and bowling, but his favorite sport to play was golf (he had 4 holes-in-one over the course of his illustrious career). Ara was happiest when he was out in nature, whose beauty he taught his children to enjoy. He enjoyed watching his favorite sports teams: the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Milwaukee Brewers. One of the few times you might see Ara upset was when a bad call went against one of his teams. Rumor has it that he enjoyed the occasional dry martini—2 parts gin, 3 olives, and a moment of silence for the vermouth. He also had a great sense of humor and loved a good joke even if he had heard it a hundred times before.

Ara left Nordberg in 1974 and went to work at Zerand Corporation; there was a more lucrative offer from a concern in Atlanta, but he turned them down in order to stay near his aged parents and take care of them. In 1982, Ara was overjoyed to welcome his beautiful Megan, his first grandchild (Jane’s daughter), into the world; and much later he welcomed Megan’s husband Jeff into the family with open arms (even though Jeff used to beat him at golf). Ara loved to take Megan fishing when she was little and even wrote her a memoir about the Kaloustian family so that the family memories would live on.

Ara retired in 1988 and after the death of his parents, he and Darleen moved from South Milwaukee to a beautiful home on a lake in Chippewa Falls. They lived there, and later in Mondovi, contentedly for over 30 years. In their well-deserved retirement, they traveled all over the United States together, pursued their interests and hobbies, and cultivated their longstanding friendships and struck up new ones. While living at Chippewa Falls they welcomed David’s spouse, Monde, into the family and Ara always cherished Monde as his own daughter. More joy was in store for Ara when David and Monde’s lovely daughter Inonge arrived (when she got older, Ara often gave her soccer advice—“Just put it in the back of the net!”) and later his happiness was complete when Megan and Jeff gave him a precious great granddaughter, Hadley. Ara took wonderful care of his beloved Darleen as her health declined and after her passing in 2020, Ara went to live with David, Monde, and Inonge in Bowie, Maryland and brought his warm presence, as well as his still-sharp wit and merriment to his new home.

Ara Kaloustian was a magnificent human being in so many ways; soft-spoken, down-to-earth, and a true embodiment of love, kindness, gentleness, patience, understanding, and quiet strength. Never boastful or self-seeking, never complaining even as he had compounding health challenges, ever keeping the placid tenor of his way, his was a wonderful example of a life well lived. Although his passing brings great sorrow to his family and those who knew him well, he has left to us in the shining example of the values that he lived every day something enduring and a source of great joy and hope.

Donations in Lieu of Flowers may be made in his memory to the

American Cancer Society

P.O. Box 6704

Hagerstown, MD 21741