Published: May 13, 2008 11:55 am            

Nicholas ‘Nick’ DeGiacomo

Nicholas “Nick” DeGiacomo, 69, of Krebs, died Saturday, May 10, 2008, at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa.

Rosary will be at 7 tonight at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Krebs with Father Leo Ahanotu officiating. Eulogies will be given by Larry Meeks and Harland Stonecipher. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in North Town. Military honors will be provided by the Honors Detail from Tinker Air Force Base. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Brumley-Mills Funeral Home of McAlester.

Born July 11, 1938, in Kiowa, he was the son of Dominic and June (Vernon) DeGiacomo. He grew up in Krebs and had lived there for most of his life.

He joined the United States Air Force on Jan. 3, 1957, and served a total of eight years during the Vietnam War. He was stationed in such places as Goose Bay, Labrador and several bases in Texas. He also had one year of foreign service. He later received his honorable discharge as an Airman 1st Class at Laredo Air Force Base in Texas on Jan. 29, 1965.

He married Elouise McClure on July 6, 1981, in Muskogee, and they later renewed their vows at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Krebs. He worked at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, formerly the Navy Ammunition Depot, as a maintenance scheduler for more than 20 years, retiring in 1983. But his real life’s work and passion was in his coon hunting and his coon dogs. As an avid coon hunter, he became heavily involved in coon dog breeding and became well known across the nation as one of the best. His stud dogs were used by coon hunters from all across the nation.

He was a charter member of the Professional Kennel Club and served on its board of directors for many years. He started the local Pittsburg County Coon Hunters Association and was instrumental in moving coon hunting from just a hobby to a professional event, in which cash prizes were awarded to trial winners.

He became the first wholesaler west of the Mississippi River to sell Joy Dog Food. He eventually developed his own brand called Gold Star Dog Food.

He was a longtime member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Krebs.

Survivors include his wife, Elouise DeGiacomo, of the home; four children, Karie and Bobby Lenardo, of McAlester and their children, Justin, Angela, Chris and Brad; Ronnie and Mary DeGiacomo, of McAlester, and their children, Samantha and Ryan; Niki and Mark Deason, of McAlester, and their son, Dalton; Carlo DeGiacomo, of Krebs, and his sons, Colby and David.

Also, two stepchildren, Lynda and Mike Hunter, of Indianola, and their children, Denver, Cody, Ty and his wife, Tara; and Bob and LeAnne Hall, of Jay, and their children, Justin, and his wife, Kim; Tarron and her husband, Justin; Dylan and Brenton; seven great-grandchildren.

And, two sisters and one brother-in-law, Junia Logan, Hazel Green, Ala., and Dominie and Jackie Smith, of Krebs; one brother and sister-in-law, Tony and Mary DeGiacomo, of Lawton; the mother of his children, Bonnie DeGiacomo, of Krebs, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister, Mary Ann.

Pallbearers will be Larry Clifton, Mark Moy, Mike Williams, Shane Green, Keith Medley, Allen Stonecipher, and John Bellentini.

Honorary pallbearers will be Pittsburg County Coon Hunters Association, Jarvis Umphers, Phillip Guinn, and his lifelong friends in Krebs.

Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society of America, 3613 N.W. 56th No. 230, Oklahoma City, OK, 73112, or the St. Joseph’s Restoration Fund, P.O. Box 621, Krebs, OK, 74554.

        

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