Bill (Laki) J. Sgourakis
January 18, 1939 – June 18, 2020
Co-Owner of the Greek Islands Restaurant.
Preceded in death by parents, John and Constantina. Survived by wife, Joanne; sons and daughters-in-law, John and Michelle, Gus and Kathleen; grandchildren: Vasili, Isabelle, Sophia, Maeve, Brynna; brother and sister-in-law, George and Koula; sisters and brother-in-law, Stavroula Prasinos, Demetra and John Sakkas; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, George Pserros, Camille Pserros; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Trisagon Service: Sunday, June 21st, 7pm, at the West Center Chapel with visitation from 5pm to 7pm. Funeral: Monday, June 22nd, 10AM, St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church. Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church, Kindred Hospice, St. Jude Hospital or Shriners Hospital.
31 Comments
So sorry for your loss. He was an incredible teacher and boss. Love you guys.
Laki’s sense of humor, whit, and encouragement will be missed. He was not only my Godfather, cousin, and our extended family, he was a good man. I’ve always know Laki, all my life. He always treated me with such love and grace. I know he is rejoicing in Heaven with our loved ones who have gone ahead. My sympathies to my Godmother JoAnne, my cousins, John and Gus and their families. Lots of love from ours. Mercina
Visited GI many times over the years and would see him there often. We will miss seeing him. So sorry.
Love and prayers for the family. May his memory be Eternal.
So sorry for your families loss. He was a great man and I will miss seeing him when I come in. God bless
Memory eternal. He was a thoughtful and wonderful friend to so many. My father thought the world of Laki. He will be missed but forever in our thoughts and prayers.
We’ve known the family for 42 years. This is a sad loss. So sorry to hear.
Prayers for the family. We are so sad to hear of his passing. What a wonderful and iconic man! My favorite restaurant in town, not just because of the food, but because of the love and sense of community these two brothers built together. May he Rest In Peace.
God be with the family and relatives at this time.
My love to the whole family. Will miss his smile and wave at every visit. Peace to each of your hearts for your loss.
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Sgourakis family.
So sorry to hear about Laki , we send our deepest condolences. Not able to attend his service Tim and I are in Montana. We send our love, our prayers for comfort through this hard time. May his memory be eternal.
So sorry to hear about Laki, we send our deepest condolences. We are not able to attend his service, Tim and I are in Montana, but our hearts and love will be there. May God grant you comfort during this hard time. May his memory be eternal.
So sorry to hear about Laki. Tim and I can’t attend his services we are in Montana, but our hearts and love will be there with you. May God grant you comfort throughout this hard time. May his memory be eternal
Sending love and prayers to all the family. Laki was such a fine and wonderful person and I miss him already. Wishing you peace and goodwill. And lots of love.
Please accept my loving condolences. You are in my heart and prayers.
Fred & I extend our deepest condolences to your entire family. Would always see him with George at G.I.
So very sorry for your loss. What a great restaurant you’ve both created together, a restaurant we’ve so loved from the beginning! May your memories help carry you through your sorrow.
Laki was such a warm, caring individual! He loved life and his family so much! He always asked about our family whenever we saw him. We all will miss him very much! The world has lost a great man,but Heaven has gained another! Our thoughts and prayers go Jo Ann, John,,Gus and all their families!
We send our condolences to the whole family, especially. Joanne, John and Gus. I remember my cousin Laki with fondness and great memories. I can see his blonde hair and blue eyes as he sat at my Yiayia Eleni’s table when he first arrived from Greece. May he rest among the saints and May his memory be eternal! Steve and Popie Rakes.
Our prayers for Bill’s whole family. We have fond memories of Bill and the GI family. Our kids grew up eating there at least once a week and we all came to love our Greek family. Bill will be missed.
My sincere Condolences to you Joanne and Family. So sorry to read of Laki’s death. May God ease your pain with each new day. He will be missed by many! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Lovingly, Linda
What a wonderful man who created a beautiful family and brought his culture to us. Thank you. Peace John…
So sorry for you’re loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Bill will be greatly missed.
Our deepest sympathy to all of you. Unfortunately we cannot attend services but we are thinking of all of you and keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. We love your restaurant and we will miss seeing Laki. John ate at your restaurant many times while he was going to med school at UNMC as well as residency back in the 90s . Amazing how Laki and George both remember him all these years later. anytime we could come in.
Dr..and Mrs. John (Rhonda) Harris
A trip home always included a trip to see Laki, Joanne, and the boys, always at The Greek Islands. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been a trip “Home”. Thank you for being such a beacon of light to the neighborhood and to all of Omaha. My deepest condolences for your loss.
We are so sorry for your loss. John eat at your restaurant for many years while he was a medical student and well in residency at University of Nebraska medical center. We love your restaurant and all these years later both Bill and George remember John when we come in. Our deepest sympathy to all of you and keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Dr. and Mrs. John Harris
I am so so sorry to hear of his loss!!! He was a great man and boss!! He was always one to push you to new limits!! He wanted the best for all of his family and workers!!! I am very grateful for the oppurunities he gave me and will always cherish the time I had working at the Greeks!!! George and Laki were the best!!! ❤️😥
I am so sorry for your loss. I will miss seeing Laki at the restaurant and the station. He was such a wonderful man. He will be missed.
Our family has gone to Greek Islands since they opened. Anna had the pleasure of working at the restaurant while she was in high school Laki, George and families were wonderful to her and taught her the value of hard work and the importance of being nice to everyone. We will miss Laki greatly and know he is enjoying eternal happiness. Our thoughts and prayers to your entire family. Love, Diane and John Shymanski; Anna and Jordan Zach.
I only just heard of your loss. I send all my love & condolences to Joanne and the rest of the family. Laki was a great man that will be missed for sure. I always appreciated feeling like one of the family, any time I came in. Thank you for all the wonderful memories and know you still live on in my heart. May the Good Lord guide and keep you through these, till we all meet again in Heaven.
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