DEATH NOTICE: Nikolas Pitsavas, 75

Nikolas Pitsavas, age 75, of Faribault, and formerly of Northfield, passed away on Thursday, August 01, 2013, at the Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 5, 2013 at 11:00 am at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield. Burial will take place at the Oaklawn Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield on Sunday from 3 to 6 pm and on Monday one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Nicolas Pitsavas was born April 12, 1938 in Katafigio, Kozanis, Greece, son of Dimitrios and Alexandria (Xoufouris) Pitsavas. Following school he enlisted in the Greek Army and in 1962 he was united in marriage to Koula Gourotou in Greece. Their first two daughters were born in Greece and in 1967 they moved to Northfield, MN when he began working for his brother Bill who owned Bill’s Pizza Place. He and Koula later divorced.

Over the years Nick, or he was better known, “Nick the Greek”, owned several businesses including Dino’s Restaurant on the west side of Northfield and for 17 years he operated Nick’s Gyros during Jesse James Days. He retired from the restaurant business due to health issues. In his free time he enjoyed hunting, bow hunting, fishing, cooking, eating, playing cards whenever he could, he was a great story teller and loved to tell jokes. He enjoyed woodworking and putsing around the house, and was especially fond of his dogs Louie and Bailey.

Nick is survived by his wife Joan; daughters Aleka Pitsavas of Northfield, Loula (Brad) Valek of Northfield, Nicole Pitsavas of Walla Walla, WA; son Dimitrios Koutsageros of Bentonville, Arkansas; stepsons Michael and Richard Johnson of Minneapolis; brother Bill (Theologia) Pitsavas of Northfield; sisters Aspasia (Nick) Marazes of Greece, Eleni Gounaikis of Greece, Elizabeth (Paul) Poulios of River Falls, WI; 5 grandchildren, George and Lenna Kouzas, Kayla, Mariah, and Isac Valek. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Gus Pitsavas; brother-in-law George Gounaikis; and nephew John Pitsavas.

Funeral arrangements are by the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield.

— This death notice is from the Bierman Funeral Home website.