On the eve of May 9, all organizations honor veterans of the Great Patriotic War who made a huge contribution to the approach of Victory. We are indebted to those who fought on the fronts, who worked in the rear, who raised a huge country in the postwar years. A lot of troubles and difficulties fell on their lot, but these people stood firm, showing an iron character and mighty willpower. On the eve of the great holiday the rector of Karaganda State Industrial University Bakhyt Akhatovich Zhautikov visited the veteran of the Second World War Nikolai Semenovich Kurilenko.

91-year-old Nikolai Semenovich Kurilenko went through the whole war. The activist of the city’s veteran organization is often compared to the hero of the work of Tvardovsky – Vasily Terkin. Tight, cheerful, active, always optimistic and full of energy, Nikolai Semyonovich with an expression often recites his favorite poem for memory. He says that it was the book about Terkin, as well as a good sense of humor and the ability to joke in a kind way that did not give him a chasm in the years of military hard times.

Nikolai Semenovich served in the 36th Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, which was drafted in 1944. The Victory Day was met in Poland. For the courage and bravery shown in the battles, he was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, Zhukov medals, “For courage”, “For victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945”, jubilee medals.

The wife of Nikolai Semenovich, Maria Fedorovna, is a toiler of the rear. Together they brought up five children who gave their parents 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Family of Kurilenko came to Kazakhstan from the Bryansk region to build the Kazakhstan Magnitogorsk in 1958 with two children, and already here, in Temirtau, they had three more children. In the town of metallurgists, Nikolai Semyonovich graduated from the construction technical college, worked as a senior master, and then as the head of the water supply and ventilation department of the trust “Kazmetallurgstroy”

Despite his considerable age, veteran Kurilenko is still in the ranks – he is a lover of travel, fishing, cycling, swimming and working at the dacha. With the wife together they are already 66 years. Last year, the couple of Kurilenko was named the best family in Kazakhstan, becoming the winner of the national contest “Mereili Otbasy”. This award is natural, because the family of Kurylenko is friendly, exemplary, creative and unique.

B. A. Zhautikov handed Nikolai Semenovich and Maria Fedorovna gifts from the staff of the university and wished them long life. Rector of KSIU noted that it is thanks to veterans that the people of Kazakhstan have lived for many decades under a peaceful sky.

Press-service of KSIU