Name: Visitation for Thomas C. Katris
Start: 2014-10-09T20:00:00.000Z
End: 2014-10-10T01:00:00.000Z
Location: Kish Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Munster

THOMAS C. KATRIS MUNSTER, IN

Thomas C. Katris, 87, of Munster, IN passed away on Monday, October 6, 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer, with his loving wife of 55 years, Kathryn by his side. Born to Chris and Theofania Katris on June 21, 1927 in the village of Nestani, Greece, just outside of Tripoli, Thomas was the third youngest of nine siblings. As Thomas experienced the many hardships, dangers and struggles before, during and after World War II in Greece, he developed the strong determination, hard work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit and the love of and faith in God and family that would shape the rest of his life. After immigrating to the United States in 1951, Thomas worked at a factory on a production line where he developed a very cost saving and efficient method of production that earned him high praise and a hefty bonus. He later formed Katris Brothers Builders Inc. with his younger brother Danny in the 1950's. Together they built many new homes in northwest Indiana. They purchased the old Knights of Columbus Hall in East Chicago, IN and converted it into the Wishing Well Restaurant and added several apartments above it. They then purchased the Vogue Movie Theater also in East Chicago, IN. Thomas briefly returned to Greece to find and marry Kathryn on February 15, 1959, which he referred to us "the greatest moment of his life." He always considered himself lucky to have found such a loving wife and mother to their children. In 1968, Thomas became a pipefitter and a proud Local 597 Union member until his retirement. In 1984 he and his wife purchased and operated what was later named Kathy's Kitchen Restaurant. Together they worked seven days a week, morning and night to provide for their family. While a resident of Munster, IN from the 1950's to the 1970's. Thomas was a member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Hammond, IN. From the 1980's to 2004 he lived in Crown Point, IN and attended the St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Merrillville, IN. He was also a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Boulder, CO. from 2009 to 2014. Thomas became a Freemason in the early 1970's and was a member of AHEPA since the 1950's. Thomas has a variety of hobbies. He made his own wine from grapes he pressed himself. His life-long enjoyment and passion for gardening provided loved ones and friends a never ending array of delicious vegetables. He donated his tremendous surplus to his church and a food bank. He composed poetry and many songs and was complemented for his great singing voice. He also loved to chant in church from the time he was a child. Thomas will always be deeply loved by his family for his warmth, kindness and generosity and very proud of all of his accomplishments and achievements. He lived life on his terms and truly lived life to the fullest. Thomas is survived by is wife, Kathryn (Eliopoulos) Katris; sons, Chris Katris of Munster, IN, John (Georgia) Katris of Munster, IN and Frank Katris of Plainfield, IN. his daughter, Frances (Louis) Gonis of Louisville, CO; his grandchildren, Marianna Gonis, George Gonis and Katherine Katris; his brother, Danny Katris of Chico, CA. Visitation will be on Thursday, October 9, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at Kish Funeral Home, 10000 Calumet Ave. Munster, IN. Funeral service and interment will be at St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Monastery in Florence, AZ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Athony's Greek Orthodox Monastery, 4784 N. St. Joseph's Way, Florence, AZ. 85132. www.kishfuneralhome.net

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Published by The Times from Oct. 8 to Oct. 9, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Katris

4 Entries

Frances Katris

October 11, 2014

My Dearest Uncle Tasos,
You have gone to sleep and left us; thus, leaving a large hole in our hearts. You have been an example to us. A strong man who has been a provider, loving husband and father, brother, and uncle. You were a renaissance man, innovator, builder, businessman, the poster child of "Just do it." If life gave you lemons, you made lemonade, and if the winter prevented you from gardening, you built a greenhouse with heating. You were a proud man because you came from a blood-line of "in your face" powerful men, named after your great-grandfather, the general.
These attributes should be enough for one man, but they are not your finest. My dear, proud, handsome uncle, your finest attribute is the one you taught us at the end of your life. The innocent, child-like unadulterated belief that anything is possible as long as you still have a breath left in you. You and your brother, both passionate and strong men, had spent years apart due to a misunderstanding. Earlier this year, you called to tell him that you were dying. You heard devastation in his voice. He could not let you go; thus, began a weekly discourse between you and him. I also became involved, thus, having the pleasure to better know you. Your fight against cancer was nothing less than valiant. Your great grandfather would have been proud of you. You were weak and could not say a lot, but the little that was said was enough to make up for all the years that we were apart. You wanted to leave an imprint on our hearts, and you did!!!
Thank you for teaching me integrity, love of life, truth and religion. Life makes most people cynical, but you remained untainted with child-like optimism. Thank you for the inspiration.
Thea Katina, cousins Chris, John, Frank, and Fran, we send our heartfelt condolences. We will miss him. Fran Katris, Danny Katris and Family.

Joe Pranaitis

October 9, 2014

I'm honored to have known him

George Keritsis

October 8, 2014

Our Deepest Condolences

Dear Thea Katina,... Chris, Johnny, Franky and Frances,

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which shall attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the MEMORIES of our beloved and now departed Uncle Tasso.

After learning of his illness more than a year ago I took the decision and made the effort to visit Uncle Tasso while he was still alive and in full control of his faculties. I am glad I did so,.. and I will have the memories of that visit always.

It was with an abundance of anticipation that I called Theo Tasso to ask if I could visit him in Colorado,... when I told him of my intentions he replied without hesitation,.. "ELA POULAKI MOU",.. Uncle Tasso was the only other man in addition to my own Daddy that would use the tender variant "POULAKI MOU",.. because Uncle Tasso and my own Father were both strong men in every sense of the word "MAN",.. yet with all their manhood had the confidence to demonstrate tenderness when compelled to do so without difficulty, insecurity or inhibition.

Suffice it to say that Uncle Tasso was a strong iconic man with the capacity for tenderness.

When I made the trip to Colorado with my mother (Thea Stavroula), to visit Uncle Tasso and Thea Katina, and I had the opportunity to reminisce with both about my childhood days when we frequently visited Munster Indiana in the 60s & 70s.... all us cousins were inseparable as kids,.. and today as adults we are spread all across these United States.

While in Colorado, I spent my time with Uncle Tasso listening to his stories,.. he loved to speak about all he had accomplished since immigrating to the United States,.. I listened to how he secured his fist "Pipe Fitter" apprenticeship,.. how he and his brother started and profited from housing construction,.. and he still kept the original 50 year old articles of incorporation book to show off. But Uncle Tasso was most proud when he spoke about Thea Katina,.. and how the circumstances came about in meeting her in the Kapsa village of Tripolis through special inquiry, reputation and referral.

It was by the impeccable reputation of our grandmother "Christina" that Katina was know to have virtues that were beyond reproach,.. and to that end Uncle Tasso pursued and won the hand of Katina in marriage.

Uncle Tasso acknowledged to me his hard working work ethic,.. and emphasized how Katina was the pillar of strength in the care-taking of the family and especially his demanding needs. He had come to realize that it was his turn to now be caretaker of Katina as payback and reward for Katina's years of hard work in the home and family,.. and looked forward to assuming that role as Katina's caretaker.

I remember listening to Uncle Tasso tell me his intentions,.. but I new that because of what was to come,.. that those well-meaning intentions would not come to fruition because his illness would take away that opportunity for him to payback Thea Katina for her love, loyalty, and car taking of him and the entire family.

As it would turn out life's plans were different than Uncle Tasso's plans.

In Greek, the name Tassos means- harvester, so it is no wonder that Uncle Tasso was growing fresh vegetables in his garden and had extended the practice of gardening to the point of engineering his own greenhouse with heated ventilation for year-round production. It seams like Uncle Tommy (as I sometimes called him) was always building something,.. he was never one for standing still. I feel certain that even in the after-life he will be practicing the art and joy of creating harvesting and building something.

"I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of your beloved.., Husband, Father" and our Uncle.

It is with great disappointment that we are not able to attended the service for Uncle Tasso,.. as my mother has become physically shaken in grief at the thought of her grieving sister.

The Keritsis Family

Elias-Aphrodite Perdicologos

October 7, 2014

our sincere condolences to the entire family of our beloved koumbaro Tom. May god place him among his saints, and give you strength to cope at this difficult time.

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