Antonios Michaelou

Antonios (Tony) Michaelou -- Age 82, of Flint Township, died January 12, 2023. Funeral will be 11 AM Tuesday, January 24 at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 2245 E. Baldwin Road, Grand Blanc. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Grand Blanc. Visitation will be held 4-8 PM, with a 7 PM Trisagion service on Monday January 23 at Sharp Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 6063 Fenton Road, Grand Blanc; and 10 AM until the time of the funeral at 11 AM on Tuesday January 24 at the church. Those desiring may make contributions to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church.

Antonios (Tony) was born in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1940 to Greek parents Michael Michaelou and Sevasti Mavrikaki. His parents met in Egypt after a mass exodus from Greece following World War One. Tony was the eldest of three siblings, which included his sister Evangelia and brother Agapitos.

Following the deaths of his father and sister, the family returned to Greece. Tony chose the island of Rhodes, his mother’s birthplace, to relocate. He was working at a hotel when he met his future wife Sevasti Kariki, from Psinthos, Rhodes. The two were married on July 4, 1964. The following year, Sevasti gave birth to twins Mike and Kathy.

In March of 1961 he joined the Greek army, serving only 11 months instead of the required two years because he was the eldest son of a widow.

Tony worked with a Greek shipping company from 1966 to 1969, granting him the opportunities to travel the world and become fluent in several languages. In 1970, he moved his family to Flint, Mich. He held a few restaurant jobs in the Greek community until he was hired at the General Motors Truck and Bus Plant in 1972. During layoffs he would earn money by performing upholstery jobs for his friends who owned Greek restaurants. He retired from General Motors after 30 years of service.

After he retired, Tony enjoyed going on bus tours around Michigan sponsored by the United Auto Workers union. He also loved to cook Greek food for his family and the  neighbors residing on the cul de sac where he lived for more than 30 years, whom he considered very dear to him.

Tony is survived by his daughter, Kathy Walker (Bruce), and four grandchildren, Alexandra and Sevasti Kirby, and Nicholas and Matthew Michaelou; daughter-in-law, Olivia. Tony was preceded in death by his beloved son, Mike.

Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.