John N. Gikas

SERVICES: A memorial celebration in honor of John's life will be at 1:00 PM Saturday, April 10, 2010 at First Baptist Church in Pampa, with Grant Gikas, John's son, officiating. Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa.BIOGRAPHY: Mr. Gikas was born July 6, 1922 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was a 1941 graduate of Borger High School and served in the U. S. Merchant Marines during World War II. He was a resident of Pampa since 1947 before moving to Lubbock in 2002. John married Joyce Stone on March 21, 1948 in San Antonio. From 1947 until 1951, he worked with his uncle, Bill Coronis, at the Coney Island Café. John and his brother, Ted, owned and operated the Coney Island Café from 1951 until their retirement in 2001. He was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church in Pampa and taught the Everyman's Bible Class for many years, and was currently a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Lubbock. John was a trustee of the school board of Pampa Independent School District for 12 years and served as board president. He was a member of the Pampa Chamber of Commerce and was active in the Pampa United Way and the Gray County Red Cross. John was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Ted and Chris.SURVIVORS: wife: Joyce Gikas of the home; 2 sons: Tim Gikas and wife Connie of Fredericksburg, and Grant Gikas and wife Debra of Las Colinas/Austin; a daughter: Karen Jacobsen and husband Doug of Lubbock; brother: Gus Gikas and wife Leola of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; 2 sisters: Margaret Herron and husband B. J. of Marshall, and Marie Puckett of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; 7 grandchildren: Heather Patterson of Richmond, Tyler Jacobsen of Poughkeepsie, New York, Ryan Gikas of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Tanner Jacobsen of Brooklyn, New York, Lindsey Gikas of San Francisco, California, Abby Kelly of Round Rock, and Lauren Ellis of Granbury; 9 great-grandchildren.MEMORIALS: First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 621, Pampa, Texas 79066-06221.