John G. Lazaris

John G. Lazaris, age 74, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away suddenly at home on October 3, 2024. 

He was born on August 26, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Gust J. Lazaris and Dorothy Francis Corsault. He married Barbara Gunner on February 20, 1977, in Elmwood Park, Illinois, at Kennicut Mounds, in an outdoor ceremony. It was a crisp winter morning with clear blue skies and a dusting of new snow. 

John graduated from Chicago Vocational Tech High School and on July 24,1968, he enlisted in the Air Force. He received an honorable discharge from active duty on July 21, 1972, having achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant in October, 1971. During his military career John received technical training to maintain the communication and navigation system for the F-106 Fighter/Interceptor and worked on C-130 Hercules transport aircraft as well as other aircraft and equipment. He had top security clearance. His tour of duty included Southeast Asia. 

Upon returning to civilian life John enrolled in the University of Illinois, Circle Campus, where he studied anthropology and sociology. He held a lifelong interest in the origin of the human species. He felt respect for all beings and believed nature, the universe, and all life were inseparable. His favorite film was Planet of the Apes. 

In 1977 John and Barbara moved from Oak Park, IL to a farmhouse outside Rio, Wi. Their son, Paul, was born in April 1978. The next month, looking out their front window, they saw that the entire hill of their rented house was a beautiful blossoming apple orchard. Life was cozy and good.

John worked in construction until 1982 when the opportunity arose to use his military technical education with Oce-Bruning Engineering, repairing blueprint machines and copiers.

It was then that John and the family moved to Madison, Wi. Over the years they had many good times canoeing Lake Wingra, catching crappies and bluegills, camping in Wisconsin State Parks, taking nature walks, and attending Paul’s soccer games and enjoying the camaraderie of the 56’ers out of town trips. John was a founding member of the Oak Savannah restoration project at the UW Arboretum on Monroe Street.

As time went on John’s work evolved into maintenance and repair of computers. In 2000 he received A+ certification from the Computer TIA certification program. Those skills will be missed.

Eventually John decided to make his hobby of carpentry a new career. He first worked with Muir Cabinetry and Construction. After several years he got his contractor's license and started his own business. He was especially skilled in remodels of old homes with uneven lines. His pocket doors were perfect. 

John's personal life became filled with more activities when his son, Paul and wife Kisha (Mahone) Lazaris, brought much joy with the birth of Drake in 2011, and Baron in 2014. John and Barbara traveled frequently to Kenosha to see the family for creative delicious food and outdoor ball play, frisbee, mini-golf, board games, Uno, Little League games, and eventually watching the kids play video games. Cooking continues to be a favorite family activity. A trip to the Florida Keys in 2016 remains memorable for an exciting outdoor family game of Survivor, as well as catching fish from a pier in water that we later learned held crocodiles. 

In 2019 John retired from the work world. He and Barbara enjoyed one month in the spring every year in Nokomis, FLA, visiting museums, botanical gardens and enjoying the beach daily. John liked bird watching and was an avid reader. The scope of his knowledge was broad and deep. 

To all who knew him John was a genuine person, caring, always willing to help. He had a friendly nonjudgmental way about him. To his wife he was known as a kind and loving friend and partner, a great masseuse, a perennial source of shared laughter, and an amazing cook ("you can never have too much lemon in Greek lemon soup" he would say.) He managed to combine practicality with humor and compassion. He was a good, decent man. A great example. 

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, his son Paul, and his brother Vince Strangis. Survivors include his wife Barbara (Gunner) Lazaris, daughter-in-law Kisha (Mahone) Lazaris, grandsons Drake Lazaris and Baron Lazaris, sisters-in-law Suellen (Gunner) Taylor, Pam (Gunner) Riepe, brother-in-law Hank Riepe. Nieces Laura (Riepe) Sygulla, Debbie (Mike) Ziebarth, Pam Strangis Landeen, Laurie Strangis Harwood; nephews Eric Riepe and Ben Riepe. He is survived by grand nieces Madeline Grinnell, Taylor Grinnell, Sydney Grinnell; Madelyn Harwood, Gillian Harwood, Lindsay (Doug) Hawkins, and Piper and Asia Riepe. He is survived by grandnephews Justin (Jen) Landeen, Vinnie Ziebarth, Zachary (Christina) Ziebarth, Joshua (Courtney) Ziebarth, Jack Riepe, Eric Riepe, and Joe Riepe. He is survived by great nieces Jiovanna Landeen, Julianna Landeen, Alexandria Ziebarth, and Morgan Ziebarth; he is survived by great nephews Jionni Landeen, Joshua Ziebarth, Ryan Ziebarth and Dylan Ziebarth. 

"If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." (Psalm 139:9,10) 

A celebration of life will be held October 23rd at Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI.

Donations may be sent to a library of your choice or the Chicago Field Museum.