Eileen J. Vlahakis

  Eileen J. Vlahakis, age 93, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Monday, April 1, 2019, at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton. A private family service will be held at a later date. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Yankton. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton. Eileen J. Vlahakis was born March 28, 1926, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, to Eugene and Clara (Steckbauer) Cronk. Eileen grew up in Rhinelander and graduated from Rhinelander High School in 1944. She married Chris Vlahakis in June of 1947 and they then moved to Yankton, South Dakota where they owned and operated the Presto Café. In 1957, along with Theodore and Victoria Vlahakis, they started the Black Steer Steak House in Yankton which they operated together for several years. Eileen later owned and operated the Riviera Café in Yankton, working in every aspect of the cafe until her retirement. After her retirement, she continued to work part time as the secretary for the Masonic Temple in Yankton. Eileen always had a special place in her heart for Rhinelander, Wisconsin and loved taking yearly trips back to visit family and friends. Her hobbies included cooking, reading, working in her yard with flowers, listening to music, and completing daily crossword puzzles. She was a very hardworking woman who took great pride in caring for her family and her home. She especially loved spending time with her children, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Survivors include her three children: Mary Ann McAtee of Watertown, South Dakota; Mike Vlahakis of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and Jim (Joyce) Vlahakis of Yankton, South Dakota; two grandchildren: Anne (Heath) Rylance of Watertown and Mike (Paula) McAtee of Denver, Colorado; five great grandchildren: Jennika, Kaden and Nikolas Rylance and Brynn and Annie McAtee; and one brother, Ernie (Dorothy) Cronk of California. She was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Doug McAtee; four sisters and two brothers. To send an online message to the family, please visit www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com.