Michael ‘Mike’ Anthony Tzouanakis

Michael “Mike” Anthony Tzouanakis passed away Friday, Dec. 4, 2020.

Michael was born on May 3, 1927 in Greencastle. He was the son of John and Virginia (Reynolds) Tzouanakis.

He was a 1945 graduate of Greencastle High School.He enlisted in the Army on July 6, 1945 and was discharged on Dec. 31, 1946.

He married Suzanne Rowland on June 15, 1952.

He graduated from Indiana State University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in education in 1951 and his Master of Science Degree in 1955.

He began his teaching career at Jones Elementary School. He was a fifth-grade teacher for five years. He then served as principal for eight years.

In 1964, he then became the first principal of Northeast Elementary School and retired from there in 1991. He was very humbled to have the school renamed in his honor.

He spent countless hours involved in activities that concerned children: Coaching girls and boys in multiple sports, summer recreation programs at school and in the community. His goal was always to have children that he worked with be the best they could be.

He was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church where he served on various committees and served as a eucharistic minister for 43 years. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He was also a member of the Indiana Elementary Principals Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals, Kiwanis Club, American Legion, Greencastle Retired Teachers Association and the Oldtimer’s Club.

Along with his love for education, he served as a safety patrolman at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway beginning in 1950 and served in that capacity until he began working during the summers for Patrick Racing in early 1980s. The team was sold to Bobby Rahal in 1991. He continued working for Rahal, Letterman, Lanigan Racing until 2017.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, wife and sisters, Helen Flint, Irene Brant and Mary Huntington.

He is survived by his sons, Michael Tzouanakis II of Greencastle and John (Lisa) Tzouanakis of Wauconda, Ill.; a daughter, Stephanie (Scott) Gardner of Scottsburg; grandchildren Lindsay (Zac) Reece of Lousiville, Will Gardner of Memphis, Ind., Bailey (Tzouanakis) Szubinski and Taylor Tzouanakis, both of Wauconda, Ill.; great-grandchildren Brody and Berkeley Szubinski of Wauconda, Ill.; sister Josephine Meredith of Fairfield, Ohio.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church with interment to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home Greencastle.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to: Tools for School, P.O. Box 251, Greencastle, IN 46135; Greencastle School Corp., c/o Food Service, 1002 Mill Pond Lane, Greencastle, IN 46135; Society of St. Vincent DePaul, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 202 E. Washington St., Greencastle, IN 46135; or Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry, 600 Tennessee St., Greencastle, IN 46135.

He loved his community and all those he served. He gave his time and talent and didn’t ask for anything in return.

“My love and thoughts will always be with every child who I have had the opportunity to work with because they have been my inspiration.

All of these children have kept me young at heart, mind and body. They have given me a great deal more than I have given them.”

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family c/o www.Bittlesand Hurt.com.