Vladimir Arandjelovic

Vladimir Arandjelovic, 75, passed away on December 7, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona after a brief illness. Son of Ljubomir and Desanka Arandjelovic, he is survived by his wife, Vera, loving daughter and son-in-law, Marina and Tom Krueger, his cherished grandson, Miles Krueger, brother, Zoran Arandjelovic (wife Gotza), nieces Nevena and Milena Arandjelovic, and cousin, Andjelka Vlahovic (husband Bora). Survivors from his first marriage include Susan Arandjelovic, (wife), mother-in-law, Mary Cook and brother-in-law Tom Cook (wife Rebecca). Vladimir was a true Renaissance man and a citizen of the world. Born in Gaglovo, former Yugoslavia, he survived the deprivations and devastation of his war-torn childhood. The son of a family of educators, he completed a degree in comparative literature and philosophy at the University of Belgrade. Earning a scholarship for graduate study, he matriculated at the Centre Européen Universitaire in Nancy, France. Upon completion of his M.A at Indiana University, he taught French and Russian at Hope College, Holland, Michigan. Always an artist, he launched his career as a sign and billboard painter in Michigan and continued a long tenure in that trade at Outdoor Advertising Systems in Phoenix. Upon retirement, he devoted his time to his true calling, painting. Returning to Belgrade after retirement, he reproduced in oil and acrylics many beautiful scenes from photos he took of Mediterranean settings: Southern France, the Dalmatian coast, and Italy. His last works were Arizona desert themes. He will be missed for his kindness, generosity and self-effacing manner, for his sense of humor and his non-judgmental spirit. A friend once described him as “a central European intellectual” transplanted in the desert. Linguist, translator, creative thinker, musician, and artist, he was at home in any setting, but most preferred an animated intellectual multi-lingual discussion in a cafe with friends in Paris, Belgrade, or at a Denny's in Mesa, AZ. Dad, we love you deeply and you will be greatly missed by your family and friends. Funeral arrangements and memorial will be held in Belgrade, Serbia at a later date.