Johnn Zarafetas

April 20, 1954 – December 5, 2025

Johnn Zarafetas, affectionately known as “The Greek,” a devoted member of the Lake Geneva community and a beloved fixture at the Olympic Restaurant, passed away after a life defined by hard work, loyalty, and quiet devotion.

Originally from Greece, Johnn made his way to Lake Geneva and found a second home at the Olympic Restaurant, where he dedicated an extraordinary 49 years of service. He worked 25 years under the previous ownership and 24 years alongside our family, becoming not just an employee, but an irreplaceable part of the restaurant’s heart and history. For nearly five decades, Johnn showed up day after day with unwavering commitment, pride in his work, and a deep sense of responsibility that is increasingly rare.

Johnn had no family here in the United States, but he was never alone. Over the years, our family became his family. He watched us grow up, and we watched him become a constant presence in our lives. He helped raise our children in his own way – always making them food after school, always there, always steady. To us, he was family in every sense of the word.

Those who knew Johnn knew him as a hardworking, dedicated, and famously cranky man – a classic Greek soul with a tough exterior and a soft heart reserved for those he loved. While he may have been gruff to the world, with us he had a gentle smile, a quiet kindness, and a loyalty that never wavered. His love wasn’t loud, but it was real, dependable, and deeply felt.

Johnn leaves behind the family he chose – our parents, siblings, children, and everyone at the Olympic Restaurant who had the privilege of working beside him, learning from him, and loving him. His presence shaped our days, our business, and our memories, and his absence will be deeply felt.

We will forever remember Johnn for his dedication, his work ethic, his quiet generosity, and the many years he gave to the place he called home. His legacy lives on in the walls of the Olympic Restaurant and in the hearts of all who knew him.

A Graveside Service will be held at 1:00PM Monday, December 22, 2025 at Oak Hill Cemetery 1101 Cemetery Road Lake Geneva, WI 53147. For additional information, please call (262)-248-2320.

Lazarczyk Family Funeral Homes of Lake Geneva and Delavan are proudly serving the family.