Edward Cieslak's Obituary
Edward Cieslak, age 82, of Lorain passed away Thursday, February 23, 2017 at Autumn Aegis Retirement Community.
He was born on May 12, 1934 in Blawnox, Pennsylvania to Marion and Antoinette Cieslak and graduated from Lorain High School in 1952. Edward also served his country with the United States Naval Reserves.
Edward was a self –employed general contractor who did custom homes and commercial construction. In December, 1978, Ed was hired as a carpentry instructor at the Lorain County JVS. As a teacher, he and his students worked yearly on many civic and community projects throughout the county, including building public gazebos for the cities of North Ridgeville and Elyria. They also did a variety of projects for other schools in the JVS district. He supervised his students in the construction of several houses, and worked in cooperation with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, to build homes for Lorain County families. While teaching, his students were involved in competitions at the state and national levels through vocational youth organizations.
For ten years, Ed served as the President of the Lorain County JVS Teacher’s Association. As Association President, he worked with the JVS Superintendent and Board of Education to negotiate several master contracts for teachers and helped solve many labor-management issues.
In August, 1992, Ed became the Supervisor for all Building Trades Programs at the JVS working with students, teachers and local employers to provide work-based learning experiences outside the classroom environment in the construction areas. In addition, he worked with his teachers on budgets, ordering materials, classroom needs, lesson-planning, grades and student job placement. He was an integral part of the school’s administrative team.
Ed represents the JVS as a member of civic and industry based organizations such as the Lorain County Building Industry Association (BIA). He was responsible for bringing the annual BIA show to the JVS for several years. Ed was a member of the Ohio Vocational Association (OVA) and the American Vocational Association (AVA) and represented the JVS at several state and national meetings.
He retired from the Lorain County JVS in June, 1999. In 2001, the JVS Teachers’ Association established a scholarship in Ed’s mane, with the Lorain County JVS Educational Foundation, to be given to a deserving JVS student seeking post-secondary training. It is awarded every year as the “JVS Teachers’ Association Ed Cieslak Scholarship”.
Ed was a lifetime member of the ELKS. An avid golfer, he was a member of the former Lorain Country Club. He enjoyed snow skiing with his friends and family. Ed was a master woodworker who touched many lives with his craft. He was passionate about his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his children, Debra (Joseph) Lukasik, of Fairview Par, Paul (Wendy) Cieslak, of Avon Lake, and Michael (Cheryl) Cieslak, of Lorain; 6 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; brothers, John (Joan) Cieslak, and Richard (Denise) Cieslak; sister-in-law and friend, Toby Rieth; and many friends at Autumn Aegis.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife 0f 62 years, Mary Ann Cieslak in December of 2016; and his parents, Marion and Antoinette Cieslak; and his sister, Fran (Tom) Stanley.
The Cieslak family will receive friends on Sunday, February 26, 2017 from 2:00 -5:00 p.m. in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Closing prayers will be held on Monday, February 27th. at 10:30 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of St. Peter, 3655 Oberlin Ave., Lorain. Rev. Father Craig Hovanec, Pastor, will officiate. Private family interment will take place at Ridgehill Memorial Park, Amherst Twp., at a later date.
The family suggest contributions be made in memory of Edward to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK 73123
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dovinreberjones.com
What’s your fondest memory of Edward?
What’s a lesson you learned from Edward?
Share a story where Edward's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Edward you’ll never forget.
How did Edward make you smile?