John Thomas Costello Jr

John suffered a fatal heart attack at Madera Community Hospital, Madera, California on the afternoon of Friday the 13th of May, 2022, after being cared for at Madera Rehab and Nursing Home for over a year. His wife Elaine was able to spend about 15 minutes with him. She feels he was aware of her presence because a tear appeared in his eye while Elaine talked to him. John was 96.

John was born in Washington DC on September 1, 1925, to John Thomas Costello Sr and Mary Carlisle (Weber) Costello, the oldest of three children, a sister Mary Clare and a brother James.

The family lived in DC until John was five years old. When his father, a World War I veteran, lost most of his savings during the Depression, they moved to San Diego, and later to Los Angeles California.

John married Elaine Frances Theel, on November 5, 1955, at First Lutheran Church of Glendale, California. John was employed at various times as a draftsman in Los Angeles, a newspaper reporter for small newspapers in the San Joaquin Valley (after 400 draftsmen became unemployed in L.A).; and a computer operator for the U.S. Air Force in San Bernardino, California, and Ogden, Utah. Six months after Elaine was transferred to Fresno to help set up the new IRS center John joined her and the children. He became a main-frame (processing) computer operator at IRS. where he stayed until retirement in 1991 at age 66.

John was wounded twice in France during WWII. Once was on his upper arm while lying on a hill where a shell shattered the rifle he was holding. The other was a head wound as he dropped to the ground during a battle and turned his head to hear what the GI next to him was saying-- probably 'keep your head down.'

He was a member of the Military Order of The Purple Heart, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He attended Hope Lutheran Church in Fresno, California

He loved to write--memoirs, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and especially plays. Dialogue was his forte. He regularly attended writing classes that Janice Stevens moderated. None of his writings was published but he wrote dozens of memories of people he knew, or didn't know, and details of the many motorhome trips he and Elaine took, one of which lasted 11 months.

His other love was steam locomotives. When traveling, he had to stop at every display, whether a museum or park. If an old train went somewhere along the route, Elaine dropped him off and picked him up at the last stop.

He was curious about and could talk about anything--sports, politics, cars, tractors and endless history of all eras. Once when Elaine mentioned some innocuous subject she was treated (?) to the history of the Hittites.

Misc: John was not a handyman; he did everything the hard way, which he acknowledged. Fortunately, both his sons were very mechanics minded. Nor was he business oriented; he let Elaine handle that. One of his common sayings was, "Every Tom, Dick and Harry's named John."

John was preceded in death by his parents, baby daughter Lynn Irene Costello, daughter Diane Cobb, son Brian Costello and brother James Costello.

John is survived by his wife Elaine Costello, his son Curtis Costello, his sister Mary (Terry) Courtney, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to your favorite charity or Hope Lutheran Church . Special thanks go to Hope Men's Bible Study whose members have been so supportive to both John and Elaine, and to Steve Richardson who provided unlimited friendship and in-home care to John and Elaine.