Raymond J. Cislo, age 86, passed away on Friday, May 24, 2024, at his home in Rotonda West, Florida with Gail, his loving wife of 61 years at his side.

He was born in Detroit, Michigan on February 9, 1938, to Walter and Helen Cislo, and raised in a Polish neighborhood with his siblings, stepsiblings, and large extended family.   He attended school and graduated from St. Andrew’s Parish School.  Ray was a man of kindness, patience, warmth, and humor, and centered his life around family.  He was a dedicated, son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend.  He met his wife Gail after high school, while he was working at a local grocery store.  He married the love of his life on April 20, 1963, after he returned from the Army.  As he and his siblings started families, he continued the traditions of his childhood.  The families and cousins often got together for the many birthdays, important events and especially Christmas Eve each year.  One joking question Ray liked to ask was, “What time is midnight mass?”

Ray’s life was a life of service, in the army, and as a Detroit Police Officer for 35 years.   He served as an active and involved member of his church and took on leadership roles in the Men’s club, the school PTA, and was known for heading up the St. Suzanne’s Fish Fry every Friday during Lent.  In his retirement, he decided to take on a job as head custodian at St. Mary Our Lady of the Snow in Milford, MI and worked another 5 years.   Ray and Gail permanently moved to Rotonda West, Florida in 2017.  There he enjoyed socializing with family, the sunshine and continued golfing, for as long as his body allowed.

Ray taught his children with his calmness, fairness, a sense of humor and most of all by example.  He taught the value of hard work and pitching in to help one another.  He showed the value of education as he earned his associate degree attending “night school” at Schoolcraft College, while also working as a police officer with three kids at home.  In the police force, he was promoted to Sergeant Detective and finished his career at the 3^rd precinct.

Ray and Gail always had many friends wherever they lived and worked, and many have remained life-long friends.  These friendships brought many great people into Ray’s life, and many happy gatherings, vacations, and travel, and most of all much laughter and love.  The camping trips with a large group of St. Suzanne families was one of those fond memories.

Ray is survived by his wife Gail (Kobzan) Cislo, and children, Andrea (Tom) Durkee, Michael (Renay) Cislo and Kristen Gavagan, and 4 beautiful granddaughters, Lauren, Sarah, and Hanna Cislo and Alyssa Durkee.  He also his survived by his siblings Jerome (Carol) Cislo, Daniel (Dorothy) Cislo, Joseph (Shirley) Cislo, and Mary Ann (Ed) Harkins, Hattie Loftis, Theresa Kotzian and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by “Big Jer” Gerald Wroblewski, his parents, Walter Cislo and Helen Cislo, and stepmother, Irene Cislo.

A funeral mass will be held in Michigan where he spent most of his life, beginning at 10:30 am  on Tuesday, June 25th, 2024, at St. Colette Catholic Church located in Livonia, MI, with luncheon to follow.  Committal and burial will also be held on Tuesday, June 25th, 2024, at 2:30 pm at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI.

Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to extend condolences to the family. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home Port Charlotte Chapel.