Donald Kikta Jr.

Donald (Don) Kikta Jr. was born November 1, 1959, and went to eternity April 15, 2023. Don is
survived by his parents, Donald Kikta Sr., and Clara (Lightner) Kikta, and his seven siblings,
Pauline Ares, Allison (Les) Lukaszewski, Diane (Scott) Mottlow, Dave, George, Rob (Kelly
Swedick) and Linda (Chris) Wheeler. Loving uncle to Jay (Aubrey) Mahoney, Andrea (Mark)
Starchman, Kevin Ares, Lisa Lukaszewski (Brenda Davies), Dan (Britany) and Mark (Natalie)
Lukaszewski, Melissa (Giles) Hoel, Joe and Sam Mottlow, Jake Kikta, Tessa (Joe) Heijka,
Shane and Aidan Kikta, Haley, Casey, Nick and Julia Wheeler. He was a great-uncle to many.
Don was Godfather to nieces Andrea and Julia and nephew Joe. He was preceded in death by
his very special niece, Chelsea Wheeler. Don was a wonderful friend to so many, but none closer
than Vic (Marie Rucci) Drescher, who was a best friend since high school and who Don loved
like a brother, and Russ (Nancy) Block, who chose Don to be Godfather to their son, Jack.
Don was a voracious reader and loved to share his wealth of information with anyone who
would engage in, (often spirited!), conversation. Don was also fiercely loyal to his family, friends
and coworkers. He was endlessly generous and devoted his life to sharing his time, talents and
finances with anyone in need. He often spent hours in research and manual labor to help others
with their projects. Don had many passions. He loved woodworking, blessing others with the
fruits of his labor, cars, watching racing, (mostly IRL, but in a pinch, any race would do!),
and music. Above all, he loved his huge family. Don boasted to many about days-long family
parties, and he loved every minute of every one of them. It is impossible to overstate how
much Don was loved and will be missed. Don was faithful in supporting his church, St. Pius,
and the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasia (NFED), a research and support group
for those with the condition he lived with and was passionate about finding treatments for.
Don was an active supporter of the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA), bipartisan and
bicameral legislation that is currently set to be re-introduced in the 118th Congress that
would provide financial relief with medical expenses for others suffering with Ectodermal Dysplasia.
On Don’s behalf, please ask your federal representatives to co- sponsor and support ELSA.
In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting NFED. Go to
NFED.org and click on “Donate” or by mail, 6 Executive Dr., Fairview Heights, IL 62208-1360.