Stephan James
Kristic, 56
FELTON - Stephan James Kristic passed away at home on Thursday, November 4, 2021. Stephan was born August 7, 1965, at Walson Army Hospital, Fort Dix, New Jersey to the late Lt. Col. Norman Kristic, Sr. and Marilyn (Bos) Kristic.
After graduating from Lake Forest High School in 1983, he went to Delaware State College where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Art. Stephan worked as a graphic designer for the Delaware State News and later at Print Shack. He was self-employed at SK Graphic Designs when he retired in 2012 to care for his terminally ill father.
In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by his brother, Norman Kristic, Jr.; and his beloved chocolate lab, Jäger.
Hunting and shooting sports were two of Stephan's greatest passions. From the woods in the backyard, the goose pit, Ross woods, multiple duck blinds, the Krooked Antler Hunting Club (where many memories were made and some will never be told!), and many other local places, Stephan shared hunting adventures with family and friends. He loved to travel outside of Delaware to hunt and explore the local culture. Among the places Stephan hunted were Maine, Tennessee, Wyoming, Montana, Texas, New Brunswick, Canada, the Bavarian region of Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina (where he and Melissa spent their "huntymoon"). As a result, he has quite the extensive collection of taxidermy. Stephan was the owner and talented trainer of many treasured water dogs over the years. He enjoyed skeet, trap, sporting clays, and 5-Stand and had memberships over the years at the skeet clubs on Dover Air Force Base and in Sudlersville, Md. In recent years, Stephan was introduced to the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) through the Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol Club. IDPA was a challenge he enjoyed, and he was quickly hooked. Stephan became a certified safety officer for the IDPA and a mentor to newcomers in the sport. He was a volunteer instructor for the Female Firearms Academy, where he taught women with no-to-low experience how to safely handle and shoot handguns. (He even taught his wife, who had no previous gun experience, how to shoot both shotgun and handgun proficiently. They spent many hours together shooting and waterfowl hunting.) At the time of his death, Stephan had achieved the level of expert in IDPA, an accomplishment of which he was very proud.
Stephan is survived by his wife of five years, Melissa Kristic of Felton; stepson, Seth Ames of North Haven, Maine; father- and mother-in-law, Curtis and Elizabeth Barlett of Dover; sister-in-law, Kim Showen Kristic of Charleston, W.Va.; niece, Paige Kristic of California; and nephew, Norman III of West Virginia.
Services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Rd., Dover, Del. Friends may call one hour prior.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Ducks Unlimited, the First State Animal Center and SPCA, or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com