MIHALAKIS, John "Junnie"

MIHALAKIS, John "Junnie" (Dubuque, IA, Mar. 18, 1930--Dubuque, IA, Sept. 26, 2021) Born in the area known as the FLATS, John never finished school, but started work and the age of seventeen on a towboat. When the boat sank, he went to work at the DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY when he started his first business, a bait shop, in his basement.

He was married at the time, John and his wife Letha ("Midge") eventually had eleven children. When John went out to seine minnows, some of the children came along. They helped out in the bait business which was also filled with fishing supplies. A buzzer installed in his bedroom meant that John, at any time of the night or early morning, could get up, get dressed and wait on customers.

The popular Rich & Junnie's Bait Shop was opened in 1973 by John and Rich Billmeyer, a brother-in-law and long time friend. To this business was added Junnie's Lunkers' Lover's Lounge, a restaurant and nightclub on Kerper Boulevard.

RICH AND JUNNIE'S COIN INC., later renamed Rich and Junnie's Vending business was opened in 1974 and was still in operation in 2021. This company specialized in game and vending machines and ATMs. (1)

John had a special interest--developing the perfect catfish bait. This led to the development of Cat Tracker Bait Company which was also operating in 2021. He hosted fishing tournaments and the Flats People Reunion. In his retirement, he taught his grandchildren how to fish at Bass Camp Resort along the MISSISSIPPI RIVER in Minnesota. (2)

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Source:

1. Garrett, Olivia, Junnie's Legacy Includes Love of River, Recreation, Telegraph Herald, Oct. 8, 2021, p 1A

2. "John P. Mihalakis," Online: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/john-mihalakis-obituary?pid=200250551