I remember the laughs, the jokes, the fun, the kindness and most importantly the man I was lucky enough to call my Uncle Jim - forever xo
Memories
I remember Mr. Cikalo excitedly calling me to update me on his physician visits when things were going well. He was so happy, excited, and hopeful...always brought a big smile to my face and a warm feeling in my heart...I'll miss you. Szek
I remember Jim as a man with a great sense of humor, a love of country and over 40 plus years never once heard a discouraging word. I'll miss his weekly visits to my parents drive way get-togethers where we sat and laughed and watched the world go by.
I have known Jim a long time. He knew everytime I was flying and always gave me the runway I wanted. God Bless you!!!!!
Say hi to my son Evan in heaven and take good care of him.
I remember when John and I got married in 1992 that Uncle Jim chauffeured us in their Mary Kay pink Cadillac! How special is that? He made me feel like my Dad (Lawrence, who passed the year before) was there by my side. Thank you Uncle Jim. We love you.
The laughter, cherished times with Jim and Fran. I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone, just that great smile. Jim you will be missed by so many, thanks for good memories.
Transcript of dad's Eulogy:
Whether you knew him as Husband, Dad, Jim, Uncle Jim, Dedo Jim or Mr. C, you were special to him I'm sure as he was to you.
If you know dad, you know he was not a bragger or boastful. There were a lot of good things he did that you may not know about because he just didn't talk about them. I hope to fix that today with some stories I know about him, and perhaps at the luncheon you may share your favorite memories of dad.
I never heard dad cuss or have a mean thing to say about anybody, and he felt embarrassed or ashamed when he heard other people do such. Perhaps that was due to his upbringing?
Jim was born in 1935 at home in rural Lincoln Park, Michigan. He was the 11th and youngest child of John and Mary Cikalo. He grew up in a humble home, growing their own vegetables and harvesting honey from their bee hives. He was no stranger to bee stings, but he would not complain or cry, just carry on. In High School he played football and baseball. He also worked as a Pin Setter at the bowling alley, coming home reeking of smoke and cured of any desire for cigarettes.
In 1952 the Korean war was raging, and as a Patriot, Jim went to enlist in the Army at 17 years old, only to find the recruiter out to lunch. A sharp-eyed Air Force recruiter spotted him and said "Hey son, where are you going?...." setting the course for his life.
Jim had Basic Training in Texas at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), followed by Air Traffic Control school in Biloxi, Mississippi, and in May 1953, shipped off to Johnson AFB near Tokyo, Japan.
Dad returned stateside to Wurtsmith AFB in Oscoda, Michigan. At Wurtsmith, dad was commended for saving the life of a disoriented pilot, guiding him back to the airport and landing safely in foggy conditions. Jim played for his squadron's Baseball team, earning the nickname "Kaline" after hitting a home run that flattened the baseball. Jim recorded the high game (287) at the base bowling alley; a record that stood for years. (ad lib: I later learned that was much harder to do in the old days as lanes were so inconsistent in construction and maintenance.)
Jim met the love of his life, Fran Gejoff, at the beach in East Tawas, MI and they were married in Detroit. With a grin dad would announce he was married in 1958, and before you could do the math, He'd interject it's been 23 happy years.
After the Air Force, dad continued as an Air Traffic Controller with the FAA. They moved to Chicago and started their family. Air Traffic Control was no easy job, most Controllers at the time were from the military, and were happy to "wash out" as many trainees as possible. Dad took the high road and helped as many trainees as he could, especially after the controller strike. His assignments took him to Chicago, Detroit City, Tri-Cities, Puerto Rico, Detroit Metro, and back to Pontiac, Michigan. In Puerto Rico I remember the pilot's dad befriended would take us flying and bring lobster from nearby islands. At Pontiac, going into the tower as a teen I was impressed by the tower equipment, the facsimile pen that what you wrote in Pontiac would be etched out in real time at Metro and vice versa. The Ceilometer that measured cloud height. The light gun to signal airplanes. But the most impressive instrument was dad's eyes, that could spot a small Cessna at 5 miles "look there, over the water tower" he would guide us. As I got older and became a pilot myself is when I appreciated dad's ability to accurately track and direct several aircraft in the pattern as Pontiac was 2nd only to Chicago O'Hare in takeoff and landings.
Finally settling in West Bloomfield where dad was active with the kid's little league, scouting, fishing, boating, and golf. (How could I forget playing catch?) It was the launching point for many family road trips to Toronto, Florida, Montreal and Maine. He bought the "Little Red Boat" a 15' 75HP Chrysler tri-hull that we would fish and ski from. Many memories were made at the Higgins Lake Cottage, including 35 "Third Weekend in July" parties, as well as the Punta Gorda town house. True to his roots, he had a garden every year, no honey bees though.
At 50, Jim retired to help Fran grow her Mary Kay career. This afforded them the opportunity to travel the world and meet some of their dearest lifelong friends. And he was proud to drive a Pink Cadillac.
Jim became a Dedo to Steve in 1994 and John in 1997. Jim's greatest joy was spending time with family, and was a big fan of Rodney, Alex, Evonna, Kelsey, Zach, and Nick (Alica and Andrea too, I discovered later) watching their sporting events.
Dad had a great sense of humor. He would say getting cancer was the best thing that happened to him: at 81 he never had so many people tell him how good he looked. He was proud to display "his" patents for cruise control and heated steering wheel.
He loved golfing for as long as I can remember. For his retirement party he received a golf ball life preserver, and a monogramed putter. He always walked an indirect line to his shot, walking along the tall grass, through woods, to ponds and creeks to rescue lost balls. We played several golf outings together, and he typically carried our team, we would use mostly his shots. Dad's life goal was to golf his age. He golfed with the Deshaw Family, Church groups, or going alone to get paired with a friend he hadn't met yet. One such friend was Gary, a Vietnam era F-4 pilot and Hero to my dad. Dad would joke about the Controller-Pilot relation: "I tell him where to go, and he ignores me". I was blessed be able to join the pair for a few rounds last summer.
Dad loved visits from his Grand-Dogs, and enjoyed 50's and country music: Hank Williams and Hank Jr. "On the Bayou", "There's a tear in my beer", and the Monday Night Football theme. So he wouldn't miss it, I was in the habit of calling him on Mondays and ask "are you ready for some Football?" The Monday night call is a tradition that lasted long after the season ended.
He was a strong man, working out regularly. On my first day of retirement, I went to his house first thing for morning workout. I could not keep up with him! His fitness amazed his doctors as well: few people survive stage 4 colon cancer for three years, much less a man in his 80's. When we brought him home from hospital he really rallied for friends and family that came to visit.
Accolades that came from my friends include: "Dad is one of my idols. Growing up without a dad around, I felt better when around him"; "He showed me what a good father does"; "He became more than just your father to me, but was indeed a true friend and I will miss him greatly".
Let me leave you with this: When you see a veteran selling a poppy, at memorial or veteran's day, open up your wallet and wear that poppy in memory of dad.
Thank You
the many Mary Kay events and meetings that Jim always attended with a pep in his step and a huge smile on his face. He was always so proud of Fran and her Mary Kay family. What a joy it was to have him around and witness the love he had for Fran, his family and his MK family.