Demetrios John Villas

Demetrios John Villas (aka Jim) passed away August 12, 2023 in Edina, MN, surrounded by his loving family. Survived by his children John D. (Linda), Cathleen A. Villas-Horns (John), and Daniel G. (Jill) as well as 10 grandchildren: Daniel J. (Keshia), Joshua (Hollie), Robert (Melanie), Jacob, Rachel, Zoe (Duk), Martina, Noah, Evan, and Molly: three great grandchildren, Hayden, Myles, and Julianne. He was preceded in death by sisters Lucille (Claude), Mary (Harland), Priscilla (Kenneth) and siblings Georgia, Demetrios and two stillborn male infants. He was born on February 10, 1926 in his parents' duplex by Powderhorn Park in South Minneapolis as the 7th of eight children of John D. and Anastasia (Dovolis) Villas. John emigrated to America alone in 1901 at age 15 from the village of Niata in southern Greece. Anastasia came years later with her mother's brother, her uncle Christ Boosalis who later adopted and raised her. Later on, John and Anastasia met in Minneapolis, were married, and raised their family there. Demetrios graduated from Minneapolis Central High School with honors in 1943. He passed his physical for the U.S. Navy on December 15, 1943. He served as a Signalman 3/C on the SS Drake Victory which embarked from San Francisco, California and sailed on to the South Pacific. It stopped in many countries on its trip around the world through the Suez Canal, across the Atlantic Ocean and returning to the USA in South Carolina. He attended the University of Minnesota, graduating in June 1950. His first major employment was in the Public Relations Department of Pillsbury Mills where he met his wife, Joyce. As a boy he thoroughly enjoyed playing hundreds of hours of tennis at Powderhorn Park one block from his home in South Minneapolis. He also did long blade ice-skating hundreds of miles; first on the groomed speedskating track at Powderhorn, which hosted many huge speedskating events, and later in adulthood at the beautiful Olympic size 400-meter Oval speedskating track in Roseville, MN up to age 80 when a bad fall ended his skating. In high school he was recruited by a friend to try rowing competition at the main beach at Lake Calhoun and raced for many years in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and many Canadian cities and later officiating regattas in many cities. Demetrios loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was very involved in Christian Business Men's Committee (CBMC) and discipled many men. He enjoyed reading, telling stories and jokes, whether you had heard them before or not, and watching a good tennis match on TV. He loved meeting people, often striking up conversations with waitresses, receptionists, sales clerks, other parents at his grandkids' sporting events, and most anyone who crossed his path. We will miss his feisty spirit and his fierce love for his family. Funeral Service will be 10am, Saturday, August 19th at St Mary's Greek Orthodox Church (3450 Irving Ave S, Mpls) with visitation one hour prior. Interment will be at Lakewood Cemetery, Mpls. Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

Tributes

Demetrios John Villas

February 10, 1926 - August 12, 2023

Tributes

Demetrios John Villas

February 10, 1926 - August 12, 2023

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