Emmanuel George Stavros 1897-1989

STAVROS, STAVROLAKIS, LONG, KIEFER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/4/2011 at 00:59:16

Emmanuel George Stavrolakis, the son of George and Mary Stavrolakis, was born May 10, 1897, in Ira’klion, Crete and departed this life at Holy Family Hospital in Estherville, Iowa on Monday, September 18, 1989 at the age of 92 years, 4 months and 8 days.

He received his education in the Crete schools before moving to the United States at the age of fourteen. He later attended school in Sioux City and Estherville, Iowa and Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.

Mr. Stavros entered the United States Army in 1917, serving in the First Division Infantry in France during World War One. He returned to Estherville following his discharge in September 1919, having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, a citation for extraordinary heroism, and the Purple Heart.

On April 28, 1926 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Long in Estherville. He was employed by the Internal Revenue Service. He later left the IRS to work in the shoe repair business and in 1937, he opened his own shop in Estherville. Mr. Stavros retired in 1981, having the oldest business under one ownership in Estherville.

He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Estherville, the Knights of Columbus, a charter member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3388 and the Maurice Doyle American Legion Post 91.

Mr. Stavros is survived by his wife, Beth of Esthervill; one son, Dr. George Stavros and his wife, Suzan of Phoenix, Arizona; one daughter, Mrs. John (Barbara) Kiefer of Des Moines, Iowa; seven grandchildren; Patrick Kiefer, Mark, Michelle, Laurissa, Nicholas, Kristina, and Michael Stavros; and two great-grandchildren, Daniel and Ann. Emmanuel’s death is a end of a era, being preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and six sister. (MC)

Interment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Estherville, IA