Antonios "Tony" Pandeleimon Patestas

Antonios Pandeleimon Patestas “Tony”, 87, died on May 17, 2020 in Des Moines Iowa.

He was born on January 17, 1933 on the Greek island of Andros in the Aegean Sea to Maria Patestas and Simeon Patestas. He attended elementary and secondary school on the island, and later served in the Greek Royal Navy. He married Garifalia in 1955 and had two daughters, Maria and Oursikia.

Tony worked for the merchant marines for 20 years, sailing to nearly every port in the world. He would be at sea for 3-9 months at a time and eventually decided he needed more time with his young family. In 1968, they emigrated to the United States and joined Tony’s brothers in New York to work in their restaurant business. Tony worked as a chef and baker. He later moved to Baltimore to open his own coffee shop. The family moved to Des Moines in 1993 to join their eldest daughter.

Tony was a wonderful husband and father. He was very close to his family and very supportive. He had a love for the sea and spent much time in Greece deep sea fishing. He had an out-going personality, loud, and full of life. He loved to tell stories of his travels around the world, and was a trusting and caring person.

He will be greatly missed by his wife of 65 years, Garifalia; his daughters, Maria and Oursikia; brothers, Socrates, Konstantinos and Nicholas Patestas and their wives; and many nieces and nephews. Tony was preceded in death by his mother and father; and his brother, Evangelos.

There will be a private funeral service at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Des Moines, Iowa on May 26, 2020 followed by a private burial at the Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.

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