Longtime Libertyville Restauranteur Dies

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — A longtime Libertyville restauranteur has died.

George Karahalios ran the popular Towne Square Restaurant in Libertyville with his family for almost 40 years. He died Monday after a 13-year battle with Parkinson's disease, his son, Alex, wrote in a Facebook post.

Karahalios emigrated from Greece to the U.S. in 1952 after completing his service in the Hellenic Air Force. He began working in restaurants when he arrived in Chicago, and in 1986, moved with his wife and three young sons to Libertyville where they owned and operated their own restaurant ever since, according to a post on the Towne Square Restaurant Facebook page.

"While his restaurant was his passion, George also spent countless hours supporting the two neighboring Greek Orthodox monasteries, putting his handiness to charitable use," Alex said. "And with the time that remained, his greatest joy was being a grandfather to his 7 grandchildren, cherishing every moment he could spend with them."

Karahalios' funeral was held on Christmas Eve. Towne Square Restaurant closed for the week and will reopen on Thursday.