KANTARIS, Gus James

KANTARIS, KARAMALANGOS, JORDAN, SUTTON, HAHN, DEZIEL, BENNETT, MOREL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/23/2018 at 16:11:40

Obituary ~ Gus James Kantaris
May 28, 1924 ~ March 21, 2008

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
March 23, 2008

Businessman Gus Kantaris dies at 83
By John Skipper

MASON CITY — Gus J. Kantaris, a longtime Mason City businessman, was remembered Saturday for his business sense, his generosity and his colorful personality.

Kantaris, 83, died Friday at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

He started his business career working for his father in the Mason City Laundry and Cleaners and later took over the business. His motto was, “Don’t cuss, call Gus. Wash your troubles in our bubbles.”

His daughter, Jami Anne Kantaris of Charles City, said Saturday night that in the early days, Kantaris had many Charles City clients using his laundry, including Salsbury Laboratories and several other businesses. Jami moved to Charles City several years ago and her father marveled at that turn of events. “I can’t believe that you’re back where it all started — where your bread and butter came from,” he would tell her.

In 1962, American Laundry Digest, a national trade magazine for the laundry business, named Kantaris its “Man of the Month.” The magazine said, “He’s the sort of man who can smell profit like a hound smells game. In other words, he doesn’t just know when he’s making a profit, he knows where it’s hiding and how to sniff it out. And he does this instinctively and unceasingly. “At the same time, he’s a straight-forward businessman, well liked and trusted by his banker and his customers.”

Jami Anne Kantaris acknowledged that her father was “one hell of a businessman” but said he was also extremely generous with the money he made.

"He was a philanthropist” “He was very much involved with the start of Toys for Tots and with the Francis Lauer organization,” she said.

In 1973, he opened the Athenian Supper Club and Lounge and operated it until 1987. He also owned Gus’s Rib House.

“The Athenian was near the old bus depot and sometimes people would wander in looking for a meal. My dad always told employees, ‘if anyone comes in here hungry, you feed them.’ That’s the way he was — a rough exterior but very kind-hearted.”

His nephew, Jim Kantaris of Mason City, said, “There were definitely two sides to Gus. He could be an ornery old cuss but he had a heart of gold. “For a time, there was a church in the old Grant School neighborhood that provided breakfasts to kids. If they ran out of food, Gus would always donate food and milk to make sure the kids got fed.”

Shortly before Christmas in 1968, Kantaris noticed that the Cerro Gordo County Juvenile Home didn’t have a color television. He put up some money to buy one and started a fund drive that resulted in the purchase of not only a television but some new furniture for the home as well.

Francis Lauer, the probation officer who operated the home, said money came in from all over “but it was strictly a one-man campaign.”

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
March 23, 2008

MASON CITY - Gus James Kantaris, 83, died Friday (March 21, 2008) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City with his family by his side.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 25, at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 1311 Second St., S.W., Mason City, with Father Joseph Mirowski officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, with full military honors conducted by members of the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E. in Mason City, with a Trisagion service at 6:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church or Hospice of North Iowa.

Gus James Kantaris was born on May 28, 1924, to Dimitri and Kalliope (Karamalangos) Kantaris in Mason City. Gus was one of 15 children. His birthplace was on Powder Street in Mason City upstairs from the family laundry business. Gus attended Mason City Schools and later joined his father to work at the Mason City Laundry and Cleaners. Gus was a veteran who served in the U.S. Army.

Gus married Mary Jordan in 1951 in Clear Lake. To this union, four children were born.

Gus was a successful Mason City businessman, well known for his straightforward demeanor. He started his career working with his father at the Mason City Laundry and Cleaners which was a family business that was owned for seventy-four years. Gus took the laundry from a small family run business and built it into a successful business until selling the laundry in 1983. His motto in the early days was "Don't cuss, call Gus. Wash your troubles in our bubbles."

Gus's greatest passion in life was food and cooking, his lifelong dream was to open a restaurant. In 1973, Gus opened the Athenian Supper Club and Lounge which he owned until 1987. He also owned Gus's Rib House. He was well known for his special Greek seasoning and Greek cooking. During the years Gus owned his businesses, he could always be found hosting a morning coffee club. Gus was also well known for his rough exterior and his heart of gold.

Perhaps Gus's greatest pleasure in life was the time he spent with his grandchildren, children and friends. Gus was also proud of his Greek heritage. It was said that Gus was the type that should never retire, as he often said he missed his businesses. During retirement, Gus kept busy cooking, traveling and spending time with his wife, Sharon, and his dog, Costie.

Gus is survived by his loving wife, Sharon Kantaris, Mason City; his daughters, Kym (Randy) Sutton of Taylorville, Ill., Jami Anne Kantaris and Dena Hahn of Mason City; his grandchildren, Mary (Brian) DeZiel of Houston, Texas, Caroline (Matthew) Bennett of Mason City, Katherine Sutton of Taylorville, Ill., Natalie Morel and Kristofer Hahn of Mason City; great-grandchildren, Alexander DeZiel of Houston, Texas, and Austin, Ashton and Ryan Bennett of Mason City. Gus is also "Uncle Gus" to many nieces and nephews.

Gus was preceded in death by his son, Anthony Kantaris and wife, Mary Kantaris.

Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 641-423-2372 www.colonialchapels.com

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
November 29, 2009

Gus' Seasoning: A taste of home
By Dick Johnson

MASON CITY -- Gus Kantaris, that famed Mason City restaurateur of stubborn Greek extraction, never let his recipe for Greek seasoning out of his sight. He kept it in his pocket, said his granddaughter, Mary DeZiel, who tried to convince him to pass it on. Kantaris was a bit crusty around the edges. But his big heart always shone through.

DeZiel was living in Houston when the letter came. It said:

“Here’s the recipe. Love, Grandpa.”

Kantaris died in March 2008 at age 83. He’s probably watching proudly as his granddaughter promotes Gus’ Greek Seasoning and her specialty food company, Kantaris & Co.

“I feel this is something that would have died out with him passing,” said DeZiel, a Mason City native now living in Madison, Wis. “I think he’d be happy. But I think he’d have a hard time with not every idea being his own. But I think he’d give me his blessing.”

DeZiel, 33, started the company about three years ago. She’s been marketing Gus’ Greek Seasoning for about seven months. It’s available at both Mason City Hy-Vee stores, Fareway in Mason City, specialty stores in the Midwest and at kantarisandcompany.com.

“I’m happy with the movement in it,” Hy-Vee East Manager Tracy Kading said. “She keeps it up, she might end up in a warehouse distribution center. Then, many, many people could try it.”

The flavorful, no-calorie “all-purpose” seasoning works on just about anything: pastas, meat, veggies.

Gus Kantaris saw a bottle of the seasoning the day before he died. Naturally, he approved the label.

Now his granddaughter is taking the family tradition to new heights. She hopes to add more spice blends and a salad dressing, and grow the business into a small specialty food line.

“I know there’s always going to be competition,” DeZiel said. “But I feel this is excellent, like people really, truly want it. It’s a little flavor of home, a classic taste of Mason City and North Iowa,” she said. “It’s something they can take with them — a little piece they can own.”

Recipes using Gus’ Greek Seasoning
Greek-Style Broiled Steak
Season steaks with Gus’ Greek Seasoning
Top with a pat of butter
Broil to desired temperature
Drizzle remaining juices over cooked pasta for a side dish.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad
1 cup olive oil
Gus’ Greek Seasoning (regular or spicy)
1 tablespoon leaf oregano
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 pounds Mostaccioli Rigati pasta
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 English cucumber
1 pint cherry tomatoes
8 ounces pitted kalamata olives, cut in half
1 red bell pepper
4 ounces feta cheese crumbles
Place chicken breasts in a baking pan and drizzle with olive oil, leaf oregano and seasoning.
Bake at 350 degrees until chicken is cooked. Let chicken cool, and dice into large cubes. While chicken is cooking, boil pasta to al dente, drain and set aside to cool.
Prepare cucumber, tomatoes, olives and bell pepper by cutting up and adding to drained pasta.
Add chicken to pasta, as well as olive oil, balsamic vinegar and seasoning to taste.
Place in refrigerator to cool. Add feta cheese crumbles when pasta is cool.
Can be served warm or cold, and can be made ahead of time.

— Courtesy of Mary DeZiel

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2018

Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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