Like Joseph Cislo, I also remember the wonderful family gatherings at the home of Uncle John and Aunt Vickie. And in particular, cousin Eugene; consistent equanimity, intelligence, and a warm sense of humor. 
In the mid-seventies to the early eighties (until I moved out of state) I also utilized the dental services of Dr. Cislo. His consistent professionalism as a dentist engendered trust and his friendliness and humor never failed to make me smile. Rest in peace dear cousin. 

Rest in Peace Cousin  Eugene,
My early memory of Eugene was going with my Dad (Walter) and Mom (Helen) for a ride down Warren Avenue to Abington Street to visit my Uncle John and Aunt Vickie. I was about 9 years old and Eugene (not Gene then) was 12 years older and studying dentistry.
He was friendly, quiet and reserved,  qualities that never left him.
Many years later, my wife (Shirley) and I would run into Fran and Gene at Immokalee Casino, where again, he was so friendly, always comfortable with himself. We did not see you that often, but we always remembered you. God love you. Rest in peace.
Joseph Cislo 

My heart felt condolences to the Cislo family on the passing of Mr Cislo. So many memories of the days when we were young and spending time with everyone. I was happy to give a little back when I last visited Mr & Mrs Cislo in Florida many years ago and Jerry and I cooked for them and he really enjoyed it. He will be missed.

To the entire Cislo family ,  I very sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Cislo  .   I  was very lucky to have you as neighbors and friends.   As far back as  I can remember your family was a big part of my  life growing up and I have many memories growing up living next door .    I know your Dad will be deeply missed. 

You & Mom passed on many finer things in life in order to raise eight children and do it well.  You only had to look at the station wagons you drove until the wheels fell off.  I enjoyed the times when you & I explored fixing the family car not having a clue what we were doing.  We rebuilt carburetors, changed spark plugs, points & set the wrong timing without the aid of “YouTube”!  We were truly men with no fear!

Dad, I have not written enough good things about you and Mom, but know that I could.  I miss you already, but know in my heart & pray our families will be reunited in the presence of God.

Until then, we will always be in touch.
I thank God you were my Dad.

With Our Love,
Michael, Tricia, Libby & Ben

Dear Dad,

I pray this letter finds you well in God’s presence.  It gave me great comfort & peace to hear you pray “Psalm 23” from memory in your final days at home with family.

Know that we miss you but will always remember the good times we shared.  As a dad, I have learned to appreciate the love, sacrifice and guidance you & Mom provided your eight children. I pray that Libby & Ben will learn the same from Tricia & me.

I will miss the good times I shared with you playing baseball, swimming, music lessons, talent shows, boating & fishing as a child & teenager.  I especially remember sitting next to you at the family dinner table, wondering after you stirred your coffee, when the “hot spoon” would reach my hand.  The “hot spoon” was your way of saying you will always be there for me whether I expect it or not. Later, as a young adult, I learned from you the finer things in life like visiting the Track, Las Vegas & Atlantic City.  We especially enjoyed when Mom gave us permission to go without asking questions when we returned.

I remember sitting in your dental chair many times, knowing that if you had a cavity to drill & fill, you would always say “Mike, this is going to hurt me more than you”.  “What a Crock”!  It still hurt!  But I new I could trust my Dad when things were difficult and sometimes painful.  “Emmett the Frowning Clown” was an oil painting I completed when I was 10 years old.  You bought this overpriced-fine art for $30 & proudly hung it in your Dental Office until the day you retired.  I’m sure Mom & Tricia would agree, I have acquired your appreciation for “fine art”.  I still have this priceless painting!

As my brothers and sisters have already written, my dad was the best father anyone could ask for.      But when I think of my dad and the fine qualities he possessed, I also think of the love he had for my mom.  My mom and dad were one person and they worked as a team.  And for this reason, as kids we were never able to get away with anything. You didn’t mess with mom or ignore her requests because my dad would not allow it.  He demanded she receive the respect she deserved. He loved his wife and she loved him. Even as a kid it was obvious . As they grew older together, my mom and dad did not like to be apart. They were there to take care of each other, shared responsibilities, and they appreciated the love they had for each other . At my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary he stepped out of his comfort zone and verbalized his feelings for my mom in front of everyone in attendance. He belted out a couple verses from the song, “When a man loves a woman”.  He sang it as if it was written for them.  My dad's love for my mom is a constant reminder of how to show your love for someone else. How can I be anything but proud to call him dad.

Maureen Schultz Offer- Dr. Cislo was my Dentist,  and the Best in town.  I was a  problem patient.  I  had 3 sets of teeth and none of my baby teeth fell out on there own. He took an x-ray of my mouth and said,  "What do you think?" It looks like Jaws,  I said. He said,  no problem, he kept pulling my teeth until I was 14 yes. Old. I have the straightest teeth  no braces needed. He  was also the referee at the swim meets,  the guy with the gun. Swimmers take your mark, 'Bang'. Had a blast with Carol and Linda sleep over's 'light as a feather and stiff as a board'. And Fran taking us to your G-ma's house. RIP Dr. Cislo.

I was the third in-law to join the Cislo family.  I’d briefly met Mom & Dad when they stayed at (my) house a few nights before the wedding cruise.  We’d rented Kathy’s condo out so she’d moved into (now our) house.  Of course, Kathy and I were sleeping in separate bedrooms awaiting the completion of our nuptials---which pleased Dad!

Other than the brief visit with Mom & Dad, I’d never met any of the family until the actual wedding on the ship.  Needless to say, it was overwhelming!  Over the years, I got a chance to get to know all the Cislos.  It amazed me how there could be, (to me), such a huge family.  What amazed me more was the quality of people all the brothers & sisters were.

Kathy shared stories of her childhood with her siblings and swimming, swimming and more swimming. It became obvious to me how the dedication of a stern but loving Father with the support of Mom, lead those 8 kids to grow up to be quality people.  That is a legacy that will be passed on for generations.

OK, now that I’ve got that off my chest, there was this time when Mom & Dad met Kathy & me in St. Augustine for some golf and such.  I’d found a favorite little place--the “Tini Martini” bar.  Dad and I played golf and afterwards stopped at the Tini Martini.  Well, a couple of martinis later for me, and a couple of whiskey sours later for Dad, Mom and Kathy walked to the bar to meet us. Kathy looked surprised and whispered to me… why is Dad so happy?  “Must be the good golf game” I replied…

And golf… I loved to play golf and that was something Dad and I had in common.   We played quite a bit of golf together. BUT, he always beat me!  How can that man hit a driver off the fairway?  He didn’t hit it far but bump, bump, bump up the fairway onto the green and into the hole.  It kind of got to be a family joke that I always lost.  Then, one day, it happened!  I beat Dad!  I came into the house on Marco and most of the family was there.  I announced that I had beaten Dad.  Jerry responded “

I am sad at Dad’s passing.  At the same time, I was gifted w/ a Dad who was all the things that people have already written.  Many people are not as lucky as me.

Childhood Memories: Dad would eat cakes I baked for him as a kid in my “Easy Bake” oven.  These hard, round, disgusting objects were cooked by a lightbulb!  Granted… never asked for more…but ate them & said they were good! 

On Thursdays, we’d have lunch at the Encore restaurant in Livonia Mall. Just us.  It made me feel special to have him all to myself.  Even back then, he always ate a BLT sandwich! 

Dad liked to educate & was a patient teacher.  He introduced me to the working world by showing me how to professionally handle patients in his dental office. He took me to my 1st piano concert…Arthur Rubenstein…as a way of encouraging my piano skills.  We went to Tiger baseball & I learned what the game was & how to keep score.  He taught me about gourmet food & introduced me to my first Chateaubriand.

Adult Memories: Dad knew my love of food. When I returned from a trip, one of the first things he would ask is: “How was the food”?  

Dad taught me to respect & acknowledge others.  During a hospital stay, I observed him chatting with the nurses aide & janitor and inquired about their job.  From their reaction, you could tell that most patients didn’t take the time to interact with them.

 I learned valuable life lessons & core values from Dad—both as a child & an adult.  These lessons will always be with me & have shaped who I am today.  Thanks, Dad, for being my Dad.  I will miss you.

“THE WORLD CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR.  OUR LIVES CHANGE FROM DAY TO DAY, BUT THE LOVE & MEMORY OF YOU SHALL NEVER PASS AWAY”.   

Dad, may you rest in peace with the knowledge that your focus & love of family left an amazing legacy. 


October, 2011.  Sarasota, FL.  Ringling Museum. 

Oct. 2018 - Dad, Mom, Carol and I at dinner at La Tavola Restaurant and Bar on Winterberry Dr.

Feb. 2022 - Dad and I at Doreen's for breakfast

Feb. 2021 -  Carol and I visiting Mom and Dad.

Wow. There have been so many great comments and memories written about "Dad".  I have to add a couple myself. 
I have been honored to be a part of Dad and Mom's family.  From the moment I began to date Carol, I always was welcomed and felt like I belonged. 
For the last 30 or so years, you always welcomed your children and their families into your home on Marco Island. You enjoyed your time in "Paradise" and shared it with us all.  There are too many memories to document here but there are a couple of funny stories to share.
1.) I always laughed when dad was sitting in his favorite chair and he would yell out to mom "Fran, I'm a little thirsty (or hungry) over here!" Within seconds he had a beverage in his hand
2.) As we all know, Dad did not like clutter. One time when we were visiting (approximately 5 or 6 years ago) I walked outside to get something from the car.  At the curb with the garbage cans were two of the kitchen table chairs (the table is in the foreground of this picture).  I walked back in and I asked why they were out there. Dad said, "we don't need that many chairs".  Mom was a little surprised to say the least. My assignment was to go get the chairs!!!  All the chairs are still intact. :-)
Dad - thanks again for everything you have done for my family and for letting me be a part of yours. Rest in peace, dad.
Love, 
Bob 
(your favorite son-in-law)*
* That is how I always signed the cards that I sent to Dad.  He always laughed. I'm certain he is snickering now too.


So much has been shared about my Dad’s kindness, love of God and his family.  It is impressive to think that a child born in 1930 to two immigrants (one with a fourth-grade education and the other high school graduate) had succeeded in so many ways.  My Dad’s parents put in the effort to make sure their son had the best education and moral compass throughout high school and college.   The lessons he learned early on were passed on to all eight of his children and 16 grandchildren.  It all began with picking an equally kind, intelligent and loving wife of 65 years.

Dad liked the simple things in life.   He did not drive the newest model car, live in a mansion nor buy “trinkets and baubles” for himself.   Rather, he spent his money on family.   Back in the 1970’s,  he repeatedly walked away from income during the month of August so that his family could enjoy a month-long vacation, fishing, swimming and going to the beach in Florida.   It was not the money that was important but rather the memories.   He enjoyed simple things like homemade lobster dinner, a couple of Bates hamburgers and a night out watching the horses run at DRC.   Later in his 70’s and 80’s, we all laughed when he notified us that he discovered Jack Daniels Whiskey and had a new “favorite” drink.  Again, the simple things.

We can’t forget his “humor”.  As a child, for years, after dinner he would have his usual cup of piping hot coffee.  He would allow his teaspoon to sit in the coffee long enough to get it “good and hot” as he distracted you with conversation.  Like a rancher who brands cattle, he would then “brand” the hand of the person sitting closest to him.  Of course, no one received actual burns, but he enjoyed telling you, “You’re too slow” or “Made you flinch”.  He would take great pride in getting you two or three consecutive days in a row.

Today, when I am told, “You are just like your Dad” or “Father like Son”…..I stand proud and thankful.  You could not give me a bigger compliment. 

I couldn’t have asked for a better Pop Pop. He was loving, supportive, funny, & above all, faithful. He knew how to make you feel special & would go out of his way to do so. 

Some of my favorite memories were listening to him read at mass, going to Burger King for an ice cream, & pulling out of the driveway with “Hit the Road Jack” blaring out of the speakers at the end of each visit… no matter what the time. I will miss his pop quizzes on Latin quotes & listening to music with him— specifically Mario Lanza. 

Trips won’t be the same without you Pop Pop, but I can’t thank you enough for sharing Marco Island with us & creating precious memories. I know we’ll cherish it all.

All of the memories I have with grandpa are so sweet and funny, but I think the things I’ll remember are all the little Eugene-isms. Like him always tapping his fingers on the table, him puffing his mouth up when he’s thinking, him always pestering people to hurry their turn in Rummikub so he can play what he’s been planning. We’ll all miss him and his little isms, but they are a part of all of us in one way or another. 
Love you grandpa, we’ll see you soon.

one thing that i will never forget about grandpa is when he told me how proud he was that i became a nurse and that i “followed his footsteps going into a medical career.” everyday i think about how blessed we all were that we had such an amazing grandpa who always supported our endeavors. i hope i’m making you proud grandpa 🫶🏼

What to say about a man who had such a great impact on your life. The most important things to Dad was God, my Mom and his family.  Growing up we did everything as a family. There were swim meets, boating trips, trips to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, trips to grandma’s house, Cedar Point trips or just plain hanging around the house with all my brothers and sisters. And, of course, there were the trips to “The Deserted Island” which has now become the place everyone wants to be (grandkids included).  My parents ran a strict household but one filled with love. I remember when Mom would leave the house for a whole day (Thursdays because Dad didn’t work Thursdays) and Dad was in charge. He would play Harry Belafonte really loud on the stereo system and do some very goofy dance moves that made us all laugh. He loved to embarrass all of his kids in public by doing some total “Dad things” that we all laugh about now. He was a funny man with a sense of humor we saw all the way to his final days. He did not like to be doted on and never wanted to disrupt his adult children’s lives. I am thankful that I had him in my life as long as I did. I will miss him everyday. 

Far too many memories and thoughts to write about Dad. His strength of character, big personality and love for his family. 

So grateful to have gotten the trips we have taken with him - to the Grand Canyon, Acadia National Park and others. These created so many great memories - his unique driving in New York and Maine; his reaction to the Grand Canyon - "yep, that's a big hole in the ground"; his love of the El Tovar Hotel and the history there; gambling in Laughlin; and many many more. 

Marco Island will never quite feel the same without him, but his legacy will live on there forever. 

Looking good at the El Tovar Hotel in the Grand Canyon. 

My father-in-law was an incredible man, very humble, intelligent and faithful to God, his family and his wife. He welcomed me with open arms and treated me like his daughter when I joined the family. Calling him dad was very easy for me to do. He was a role model to us all, especially with his marriage to his wife. He honored her and cherished her, they were inseparable and he always had his arms around her when they sat together. Dad always was a great conversationalist, he had words of wisdom that he shared with all of us. My favorite vacation was going to Marco Island with my husband and kids to go see grandma and grandpa. We enjoyed our morning breakfast out on the patio and the nice long conversations we would have sitting around the table. The evening would be the same for dinner but then we would watch the old Turner classic movies which dad introduced to me and the kids or we would play a board game. Dad was a great man that was loved, blessed and will be missed very much. 

I am going to miss seeing my grandpa.  Hearing his jokes and amazing stories. He has influenced all our lives in a positive way and was someone I could look-up to.

I am grateful for everything he has done for the family and will never forget the memories I have made with him.

Grandpa was a kind soul with a sharp mind. He never failed to share his wisdom with us grandkids whether it was through speaking about his family, his faith, or his past.   

Many of my greatest memories with Grandpa were on Marco Island, a place that feels like a second home. I will forever cherish the late game nights, the many breakfasts on the porch, and the “Hit the Road Jack” goodbyes that me and my family were blessed with over the years. 

I know that he loved us all very much. It was always very clear that he was proud to have married such an incredible wife and to have raised such loving children. His love for God and his family has always been an inspiration to me. I will forever be grateful to have felt his love, and I know he is watching us all from Heaven. I love you Grandpa ❤️

My grandfather was a great role model to me my siblings, and all of my cousins. He was also a great father to his children and will leave behind a great legacy.

He always made an effort to stay up to date with each of his grandchildren’s life/interests.
He would send me articles about fishing, or ask about recent news relating to some of the schools i attended over the years.

Some of my favorite memories with my Grandpa included catching fish in the canal behind his house, sitting on his back porch listing to his stories, and the tradition of him jokingly playing “Hit the Road Jack” whenever my family would be heading out from a vacation. He was always laughing and making jokes.

My dad was the most accomplished man ever as evidenced by his legacy of eight well raised kids and sixteen wonderful grandkids.   His dedication to his family was unsurpassed as evidenced by the 5:00 am drive to swim practice, tutoring in math and entire weekends spent at swim meets.    He taught all his kids how to prepare for our future, raise his second generation and live meaningful lives.   Your patience, love and kindness will always be remembered. We will miss you.

Grandpa was the funniest, most caring, and intelligent person I knew. Every time we would be getting ready to leave Florida and go back home Grandpa would play the song “Hit the Road Jack” on full volume. So now every time I hear that song it reminds me of Grandpa. Another thing he would do is ask me if I read the book, The Old Man and the Sea, my answer would be no each time he asks. I have so much love for him and he will definitely be missed but I know he is looking down on us and watching over me. 

Sending our love your way at this time of sorrow. His memories will be with you always and will make you laugh or cry but will bring you comfort.. He wills always be in your ❤️. 

My grandpa has the sweetest soul. He encouraged me in everything I set out to do, and I always knew I had him rooting for me. 

In 2014, I performed “The Man with the Bag” at the Christmas Spectacular. There was a brief section of the song where I was to stop singing and address the audience. Prior to the show, I told Grandpa that I was going to ask the crowd, “Do we have anyone from out of town here tonight?!” and I wanted him to shout out and respond when I did. Sure enough, the moment came around and, clear as a bell in that uniquely distinct voice of his, his answer rang out, “FLORIDA!” I couldn’t help but laugh, “Well I know you’re out there, Grandpa!”

After the show, when I was greeting my family in the theater lobby, Grandpa kissed my forehead and told me how great I did singing. I had never seen him cry before, but in that moment he couldn’t stop the happy tears. 

For years later, he told every new friend of mine he met about that night: how proud he was, how I talked to him from on-stage, how much he loved to hear me sing, and even how it made him cry. He made me feel so special, and I hope he knew how special he was to me too. 

Not to mention, he was absolutely hilarious. 

I love you forever and always, Grandpa. 

Though I have too many thoughts to share here, I love you, Grandpa. It’s comforting to know your looking out for me from Heaven. 

Grandpa was a great grandfather to all his grandchildren and a great father to all my aunts and uncles. Grandpa was always full of jokes and often taught me many at a young age when I would come visit him and Grandma in Florida. Some of my best memories include going down to visit him in Marco Island as a kid and getting to use his swimming pool and to go fishing out on the canal with Grandpa. More recently, I enjoyed helping Grandpa learn to use his iPad so he could follow the Sports of schools that family members attended and follow his stocks from the comfort of his favorite chair in the living room. Attached are some of my favorite photos of Grandpa

OBITUARY

Eugene "Gene" Lawrence Cislo

10 October, 1930 – 6 March, 2023

Hodges-Josberger Funeral Home

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