Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Services Thursday for John James Bratsakis, Sr.

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John James Bratsakis Sr., a captain of industry, passed into the hands of our Lord following an unfortunate fall on April 10, 2017.

He is survived by his immediate family: Wife Maria (Demopoulos) Bratsakis, his two sons and daughters-in law Jim and Alexis (Mitchell) Bratsakis and John and Heather (Anastos) Bratsakis. He was a grandparent to John and Heather’s children; Anna, Dimitri and Dean. He is also survived by sister Betty (Bratsakis) Kontras and brother-in-law John Demopoulos. He was a loved Uncle to nieces Marguerite (Bratsakis) Matthews, Dr. Anna Demopoulos and Maria Demopoulos and nephews Jim Bratsakis, George Bratsakis, Jim Kontras, Nick Flesor and James Demopoulos.

John was born in Kankakee, IL, to James and Marguerite Bratsakis on November 28, 1932.

John was the baby brother to Andy (a war hero at Anzio) and sister, Irene Flesor who all preceded him in death. He was the first Bratsakis to graduate from college at the University of Illinois, in 1954, as a Civil Engineer. He served in the US Army as a member of the secret Central Intelligence Corp (CIC) in Stuttgart, Germany.

John married Maria Demopoulos on January 21, 1962, at St. Demetrios Church, in Chicago, IL. John and Maria traveled the globe which included trips to Australia, following the route of the Titanic, visiting the beaches of Normandy, China and, of course, Greece. John was a devoted father who was a leader in Indian Guides, Cub Scouts, Band parent, founded the Valparaiso University Bench Warmers Club, and was a Valparaiso High School football and wrestling volunteer. He also found time to create the largest fundraiser outside the state of Illinois for his Alma Mater called The Northwest Indiana Illini “I” Club. He was the Valparaiso Easter Seal Chairman and Valparaiso YMCA board President. John worked at Bethlehem Steel, JM Foster, Correct Construction and would finish his working career at MCSI with his son Jim, where he kept asking Jim for a raise.

Visitation will be at Moeller Funeral Home, 104 Roosevelt Rd., Valparaiso, on Wednesday, April 12, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the Trisagion Service at 5:30 p.m.

The Funeral will be at St. Iakovos Greek Orthodox Church at 36 W. 700 N., Valparaiso, IN, 46385, on Thursday, April 13, with the interment service following at Graceland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the St. Iakovos Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund, please note in your donation it is in John’s memory.

 

 

 

Posted 4/11/2017

 
 
 
 

 

 

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