Ioannis Damianakos
January 6, 1938 - October 25, 2025
Ioannis (John) Damianakos
With profound sadness and hope in eternal life, we announce the sudden passing of our beautiful husband, father, and grandfather, Ioannis (John) Damianakos on October 25, 2025. Just a few short months away from reaching 88 years old, John passed into eternal life the same way he lived, peacefully, with strength and no suffering, surrounded by his beloved wife Eleni and his children.
John is predeceased by his parents, Panagiota and Spyridon, his brothers Stavro and Petro Damianakos, his brother Panagioti’s late wife Ioulia Damianakos, his inlaws Pagona and Harilaos Boutsikaris, all of Greece. He is also predeceased by his brothers in law Kalimaxos and Constantinos Boutsikaris of South Africa.
John is survived by the love of his life, Eleni Damianakos, and his beloved children, Spiro (Paraskevi) Damianakos, Harry, and Peggy (Peter) Ginakes. He leaves behind to carry on his legacy his treasured grandchildren, Yanni and Eleni Damianakos and Gregoria, Eleni, Yianni and Zoe Ginakes. John also leaves behind to mourn, his eldest brother Panayioti Damianakos of Athens, Greece and his little sister Maria Alikakos, Chicago Illinois, and many more beloved sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Ioannis (John) Spyridon Damianakos was born in the village of Mesochori near Gythion, Lakonia Greece on January 6, 1938. After marrying the love of his Eleni Boutsikaris in Athens, Greece, the happy couple welcomed their first son, Spiro and then a few years later, another son, Harry. The young family immigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba in the early 1970s and it was in Canada, that their daughter Peggy was born.
In the mid 70’s, John and Eleni bought a little restaurant in St. James that they named the J&H Restaurant. For 40 years they worked tirelessly to feed the neighboring areas (and visitors from all over Canada and the U.S.). John’s all day breakfasts with eggs, loads of bacon and hand cut panfries were legendary and customers still miss them today! John and his son Spiro also ran Damianakos Auto Sales for many years, bringing John great joy given his love for cars.
After retiring from the J&H in 2017, John continued to enjoy lots of family time that included barbecuing for his grandkids and families in his beautiful backyard where he loved to garden with his beloved Eleni.
Words cannot express the immense respect, love and gratitude that Eleni, Spiro, Harry, Peggy and their families will forever hold in their hearts for their beloved husband, father, grandfather and best friend, who sacrificed everything to provide for his family, honestly and with integrity. John’s grandkids will forever feel the warmth of Pappou’s love – he held them as babies and rocked them to sleep, he fed them and entertained them as toddlers and in later years, he talked with them for hours about their career plans and life dreams (and cars of course).
Forever our Hero , we love you Dad
Pallbearers: Spiro Damianakos, Harry Damianakos, Peter Ginakes, Yanni Damianakos, Yianni Ginakes and Nick Steckler
Prayers will be held on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on 2255 Grant Avenue.
Funeral Service will be held on Monday, November 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church – interment will be at Chapel Lawn Cemetery following Funeral Service.
Officiating Fr. Nikolaos Tambakis and in lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.