Terry Valdean Kaprelian, age 79, passed away on September 30, 2026. He was born August 20, 1947, in Carbondale, Ill. He was a Vietnam Veteran, as well as served an additional 9 years in the National Guard. In 1981, while serving in the National Guard, he won the Milwaukee Journal Outstanding Achievement Award.
He married the love of his life, Joanne Ricchio, on December 28, 1968. They had three sons, Terry, Arthur and Daniel. Together, they enjoyed helping out when the boys had their PeeWee and Old Timers football games as well as driving them on their country newspaper routes. He enjoyed fishing, playing golf and watching the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers. He loved gardening and absolutely loved reading, especially Stephen King books.
He worked at the VA in North Chicago for many years and ended his work career driving city bus for 12 years until he retired. He was living at the Veterans Nursing Home in Union Grove for the past three years. He had many friends there, and they all knew he was a true Trekkie (Star Trek) because he would never let anyone leave without his familiar hand raised in the Star Trek sign and say “Live Long and Prosper”.
He developed Parkinsons, as well as Idiopic Pulmonary Fibrosis and COPD over the past 15 years which finally took its toll on September 30, 2026. We knew this day was coming, but when it happens, it leaves such an emptiness in our hearts. We all loved him very much.
He leaves behind his wife, Joanne (nee. Ricchio) Kaprelian; their children, Terry, Arty, and Dan; his brother, Dr. Vallie Michael (Michelle) Kaprelian, Timothy Kaprelian; his sister Helen Sandra (Roger) Vines; and his grandchildren, Daniel, Brittany, Jacob, Erika, Jonah, Frankie; and great grandchildren Dominic, Aiden and Raegan.
A small service with full military honors will be held at the VA Cemetery in Union Grove for family on Friday morning, October 23rd, where his ashes will be placed in the wall. Family and friends are invited to Infusino’s Banquet Hall on Friday, October 23rd at 11:00 for a celebration of life.