John Ekstrom, age 60, resident of Phenix City, Alabama, passed away on Friday, September 18, 2020 at his residence.  Funeral services are scheduled at the Chapel of Vance Brooks Funeral Home, 4048 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia on Thursday, September 24, 2020, 12 noon, with Reverend Mike Reeves officiating.  Interment with military honors will follow at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service from 11am till 12 noon.

Mr. Ekstrom, son of the late Patrick John Riccinto, Jr. and Alice Faye Nunnery, was born January 16, 1960 in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  He served his country honorably in both the U.S. Army and U. S. Navy.  He was Baptist by faith.  John enjoyed fishing and being outdoors, but his biggest passion was riding his Harley Davidson.  He was a member of Yellow Hammer Charter of Iron Order.  The family remembers John as a devoted Christian who loved his family “a caring person who would help anyone in need.”

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Riccinto.  John is survived by two sons, Joshua Ekstrom of Aberdeen, North Carolina and Luke Ekstrom of Phenix City; two sisters, Liz Wilson and Carol Riccinto, both of Phenix City; one brother, Pat Riccinto and his wife Leslie of Hamilton, Georgia; one grandson, Landon Ekstrom; special friend, Roger White; many other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.