More than a craftsman: Celebration of life for Lake Zurich fixture John Bafaloukos

Family and friends will gather this weekend to remember John Bafaloukos, the well-known owner of Johnny’s Shoe Repair in downtown Lake Zurich for more than 45 years.

His life wasn't easy or perfect, says his son, Nick, but it was long, complete and meaningful.

Bafaloukos died on March 25 in Texas. He was 86.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday at Village Church of Barrington, 1600 E. Main St., Barrington. Visitation is at 10 a.m. Followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m.

Despite health struggles, Bafaloukos displayed a strong work ethic into his eighties. Besides repairs, his shop became a place for conversation, encouragement and a prayer board for customer requests.

“He touched the lives of many with his kindness and quiet grace,” said Mike Muir, who in late 2024 provided a home for Johnny's after Bafaloukos had to leave his longtime space on the corner of Old Rand Road and Main Street.

“He will be remembered for his genuine care for those around him and the comforting smile that brightened even the toughest days,” Muir added.

As a boy, Bafaloukos came to the U.S. from Greece and learned the shoe-making and repair trade. He owned a large shop in Cleveland for a time and, admittedly, got greedy and into trouble with some unsavory characters.

In 1979, he bought a small shoe shop in Lake Zurich. He found God in what became a second life of sorts after a visitor — who became a fast friend — left behind a leather-bound Bible.

A Thanksgiving Day fire devastated that shop. Parishioners from his church came to his aid, found and retrofitted a new site and funded new machinery that put him back in business.

Nick Bafaloukos said his dad loved to work, but the shop was never just about shoes. It was about purpose.

“It was about showing up, serving others, staying useful for as long as he could,” he added. Work done honestly was a gift, and people mattered.

The shop became a place of quiet ministry, where customers left not only with repaired shoes but handwritten devotionals or a conversation about faith, according to his family.

“He made it about them when they came in,” said son, Nick. “It wasn't about him and his work.”

Bafaloukos' belief in God changed him and bestowed a peace that remained to the end.

“My dad finished his race without fear,” said his son, Nick. “He lived honestly, loved deeply, and left this world confident that his journey was not ending — only changing.”