- Date Of Birth: June 23, 1994
- Date Of Death: October 17, 2020
- State: Illinois
Nikolas “Niko” Pono Kaniela Venuti, 26, of Shiloh, IL passed away Saturday, October 17, 2020, at home with his family. Niko was born June 23, 1994, in Honolulu, HI.
He loved to make people laugh and boy, was he good at it. The man could light up any room and every person he had the pleasure of meeting became a friend. He made people feel included, and always went the extra mile to lift up those around him. No matter what, he always put others before himself. Early in life, he traveled, moving to Maryland when he was four, then on to California before arriving in Shiloh in 2005. He played soccer at Shiloh Middle School and O’Fallon Township High School and also played for Legacy. In high school, Niko was a founding member of the renowned ultimate frisbee team, Minority Report. Additionally, Niko was a Yu Gi Oh master collector, video gamer, avid fisherman, and hardcore Arsenal fan. He learned to dance the hula at the Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu and went on to master dubstep in Illinois. Nikolas was raised to Master Mason by his father and paternal grandfather at St. Clair Lodge #24 prior to enlisting in the US Navy and took great pride in this accomplishment.
In 2015, he joined the US Navy. After boot camp, Niko became a Hospital Corpsman and served with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines at Camp Lejeune during which time he received a Navy Achievement Medal for outstanding service while on a training exercise at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California where he single-handedly provided medical support to 30+ Marines suffering from cold injuries. He subsequently went on to earn his FMF (Fleet Marine Force) designation. Nikolas was later meritoriously promoted to Petty Officer Third Class—earning this “field” promotion through his tireless dedication to his Marines and the overall mission.
In 2020, he married Maddy, the love of his life, and looked forward to traveling the world with her. He was a beloved friend, brother, nephew, cousin, grandson, son, and husband.
Nikolas was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother; Constantina J. Skolis.
Surviving are his wife Madalyn Alexus (Douglass) Venuti, parents; father; Dr. Guy (Becky) Venuti of Belleville, IL, mother; Eleanor (Don) Len Tai Prohaska of Wiesbaden, Germany, siblings; Elise (Seth) Dailey of Bellingham, WA, Tiare G. Venuti of Belleville, IL, Brooke A. Nickish of Huntington Beach, CA, Jackson B. Nickish of Bowling Green, KY, Giovanni K. Venuti of Columbia, MO, nieces; Seven Dailey and Sol Dailey of Bellingham, WA, father in law; Casey Douglass of O’Fallon, IL, mother in law; Sarah E. Douglass of Trenton, IL, and brother in law; Luke “Nick” Douglass of Trenton, IL.
