Steve (Eustathios) H. Chekouras

Steve (Eustathios) H. Chekouras, 88, of Lorain, fell asleep in The Lord on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022. He was the beloved husband of 60 years to Mary Chekouras (née Papagiannopoulos); loving father to daughters, Keve (John) Gialouris of Chesterfield, Missouri, Josie Chekouras (Stephen) Borness of Sydney, Australia, Harriet (Yannis) Adamis of Athens, Greece; Adored Pappou of Sophocles, Eleutherios, Evangelos, Marilenna, Daniel and Zachary; he had several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Haralambos and Paraskeve (nee Balomenos) Tsekouras and sisters, Chrisoula (Eustathios) Papakonstandinos and Asimo (Eustathios) Tsarouhas of Tithorea, Greece. Steve was born in Tithorea (Velitsa), in the shade of Mount Parnassos in central Greece on June 29, 1933. At the age of 14, he became a shoemaker's apprentice in the town of Levadia, Greece for eight years making him a true artisan. Steve came to the United States in 1955 and lived in Lorain, where he owned and operated Steve's Shoe Repair shop which also sold new shoes and boots for over 40 years. Originally, it was located on Pearl Avenue before permanently relocating to Oberlin Avenue in Lorain. He was a Past President and member of AHEPA for many years and attended St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church where he sang in the choir for over 60 years. Steve retired in 1998 and enjoyed visiting and spending time with his family. When younger, he enjoyed playing the guitar, maintaining their investment properties, planting a vegetable garden and completing small projects around the house and yard. He also enjoyed barbecuing for the family and telling stories from his youth especially from the WWII years in Greece. He relished his wife's delicious home cooked meals and loved Lorain Creamery's orange pineapple ice cream. Steve was very kind, caring, sweet and gentle. He always wanted the people around him to truly be happy. As he often liked to say, 'Be happy.' To quote a nephew, 'He was such a sweet sweet man and has had an incredible life and made a beautiful family and he achieved the American dream as a successful businessman.' He will be greatly missed. May his memory be eternal. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 8th, 2022 between 3 to 7 p.m. with a Trisagion service at 6:30 p.m. at Dovin & Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Funeral service to be held Thursday, June 9th, 2022 at 11 a.m., at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 2000 Tower Blvd., Lorain. Interment immediately following at Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dovinreberjones.com