Obituaries : Nicholas T. Mokas

Nicholas T. Mokas, 74, passed away peacefully on February 15th, 2025 at his home in Blairstown, surrounded by his loving family.

Visitation with the family will be held on Friday, Feb. 21st from 4pm-7pm at the Blairstown American Legion Hall. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 22nd at 1pm at St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Cedar Rapids, IA, followed by burial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blairstown, IA at 3pm. A celebration of his life will commence directly after at the Blairstown American Legion Hall, to which all who's lives he touched are welcome.

Nicholas, lovingly known to many as Nick the Greek, was born on May 11, 1950 in Kostarazi, Greece. He emigrated to the United States to Cincinnati, OH in 1968 where he began his journey in pursuit of the American Dream. In 1978, he returned to Greece and married Aliki, his incredibly devoted wife and business partner, bringing her with him to Cincinnati. In 1980, their first child Tommy, was born, followed by Andy in 1982. With their new family in tow, they ventured to Iowa to try their hand at bringing a family restaurant to a small community to raise their children in. After a few false starts, they found their match: a small and very loving farming community in the Heartland of America that had a vacant restaurant, and conveniently, a small dwelling upstairs so they could jumpstart their dreams with family at their side.

In 1986, The Blairstown Café opened its doors, and a small farming community was greeted by an ambitious family who made breakfast, lunch and dinner 6 days a week with love and consistency. Nick, with his booming voice and thousand-watt smile manned the kitchen whilst Aliki worked at the pace of a team of servers, delivering orders to patrons with genuine and heartfelt kindness and an equally high-watt smile. Together, they won the hearts of the town and became the de-facto town square…and the food was second to none! Many would travel far out of their way to enjoy a meal or two there daily or drink many cups of coffee and trade jabs with Nick, discuss politics, or catch his latest stand-up routine.

For 30 years, they also fed the community many ways outside of their establishment. Nick was heavily involved in helping to build and grow the community, serving on the city council, as a member and President of the Lions Club, volunteering for many committees, donating time and resources to town celebrations and events like the annual Sauerkraut Days, working concession stands, taking tickets, serving drinks, and helping the business community to thrive and change with the times. In retirement, he found passion in his local Greek parish where he was an active member of the church council, working to grow the congregation.

He was a legendary ham with the energy of a child. He was an entity unto himself, a chaotic presence full of funny faces, a belly laugh heard for miles, and more catch phrases than 100 sitcoms. His one-of-a-kind vernacular would become a part of those around him, his turns of phrase or hilarious combinations of words repeated decades after.

Music was a constant source of joy throughout his entire life. He would always sing whilst cooking, and his love of music was across the spectrum. From the Greek folk music of his youth to the American music he loved when he began his journey in this country; rock and roll, funk, soul, pop. That love of music was shared by Aliki (who sang just as much and often together) and their two sons.

Nick truly loved his family and gave to them selflessly. The children of his family (and all children, really) loved him so much because it was obvious that he was one of them, a kid in an adult disguise.

He will be deeply missed by all the lives he touched over the years, a one-of-a-kind irreplaceable force of nature the world was lucky to have.

He is proceeded in death by his parents, Athanasios and Aspasia, brother-in-law Thomas Tzatsis, and nephew Kosmas Tzatzis.

He is survived by his wife Aliki, his sons Tommy and Andy, daughter-in-law Stephanie and two grandchildren, Ari and Skye, and his sister Eleni (Helen), brother-in-law Athanasios (Tom), niece Stacy (Koskinaris) Campbell, Dena (Koskinaris) Mathes, and Effie (Koskinaris) Goetz and their children Zoe and Alexa Campbell, Wyatt Goetz, and Athan Mathes, sister Tassoula Tzatzis, niece Agni Natsoulis, brother-in-law Thomas Petrou, sister-in-law Julia Papadopoulos.

May his love and memory be eternal.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his church, St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church of Cedar Rapids.

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com