Ioannis "John" Kostikidis

Ioannis "John"

Kostikidis

Ioannis "John" Kostikidis, 53, of Townsend, DE passed away tragically on Wednesday evening, February 6, 2013 in Wilmington, DE.

Born on October 10, 1959 in Mesopotamia, Greece, he was the son of Stella Tsaklidou Kostikidis and the late Yiorgios Kostikidis.

John, as he was affectionately known by many, graduated from Mesopotamia High School in Mesopotamia, Greece. He came to the United States at a young age to pursue work as a furrier in New York City. A year following his arrival in the US, his work moved him to Maryland, where he met the love of his life, the former Deborah Best. Together they worked for Pectelidis Furs in Millington, MD for several years. Their work later took them back to New York. Eventually, they moved to Newark, DE where John went to work for Ryder Truck Rental as a preventive maintenance mechanic. While working for Ryder, he opened G.I. Tire Service. After 17 years, John left Ryder to focus more on his business, a job he dearly loved. While maintaining the daily operations of his business, he also worked for American Beauty Academy in Wilmington in the evenings as a security guard for the past two years.

In his early years, John played professional soccer in Greece, where at that time was known as the youngest professional soccer player. He was an active individual who found great pleasure in the outdoors. John loved nature and enjoyed hunting of all game. He was a hard worker, a wonderful provider and strong family bonds were important to him. John loved his family dearly, enjoyed his many friendships and especially cherished spending time with his two precious granddaughters. He touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed by the lives he touched in his brief 53 years.

In addition to his mother, Stella, he is survived by his loving wife of nearly 23 years, Debbie; two children, Carrie Clements and her husband, Brian and George Kostikidis and his fiancé, Irina Lyman; brother, Niko Kostikidis and his wife, Paraskevi; sister, Krisula Kostikidis; two very special granddaughters, Melody Clements and Karli Kostikidis and two very close and dear friends, Jerry Naylor and Danny Hitchens.

Services offered in Greek by Father Dean Nastos of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Wilmington will be held 11:45 am on Saturday, February 16, at Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home LLC, 212 N. Broad Street, Middletown, DE with funeral services by Pastor Clevie Bell from Liberty Fellowship, New Castle, DE immediately following. Friends may visit with John's family from 9:45-11:45 am. Interment will follow in Townsend Cemetery.

Flowers are welcome or friends may contribute to the reward offered for information leading to John's death to the Ioannis Kostikidis Memorial Fund, c/o PNC Bank, 460 W. Main Street, Middletown, DE 19709.

DANIELS & HUTCHISON

Funeral Home LLC

Middletown, DE

www.daniels-hutchison.com

302-378-3410