DESPENAS, Alexander Peter "Alex"

DESPENAS, HALKIS, MALAKTARIS, EATON, OHANDLEY, ESCOBEDO, AXIOTIS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/7/2016 at 07:46:52

Obituary ~ Alexander Peter "Alex" Despenas
December 03, 1923 ~ June 11, 2011

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, June 13, 2001

MASON CITY -- Alexander Peter Despenas, 77, of 960 Briarstone Dr., Mason City, died Monday (June 11, 2001) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

His funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 1311 Second St. S.W., with the Rev. Joseph Mirowski officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, with full military rites by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the church with a trisagion service at 6:30 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to the Eastern Orthodox Endowment Fund or Hospice of North Iowa.

Alexander Peter Despenas was born Dec. 3, 1923, in Mason City, the son of Peter and Kalliope (Halkis) Despenas. Alex attended school in Mason City then served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a naval air gunner aboard the USS Ranger serving in the South Pacific.

Alex married Ethel Malaktaris April 27, 1947, in Mason City. Alex was owner/CEO of Midwest Construction, the company he founded in 1958. He was a pioneer in the home improvement industry, receiving the Better Business Integrity Award in 1999. Alex was a member of Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, where he previously served on the council.

Survivors include his wife, Ethel, of Mason City; son, Anthony Despenas and wife, Judy, of Milo; daughter, Kalliope Eaton and husband, Mark, of Nora Springs; daughter, MariaElena O'Handley and husband, P.K., of Naples, Fla.; son, Peter Despenas and wife, Lori, of Mason City; son, Paul Despenas and wife, Liza, of Johnston; and daughter, Kay Escobedo and husband, Randy, of Cedar Rapids; 13 grandchildren, Angie, Tiffany, Jason, Cassie, Joshua, Zane, Alex, Cole, Jenna, Alexa, Alaina, Aunna and Noah; four great-grandchildren, Ashley, Alison, Sydney and Courtney; one sister, Bessie Axiotis, of Clear Lake; and many nieces and nephews.

Alex was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Chris and John.

Major Erickson Funeral Home, (641) 423-0924.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2016