EIEL, Jack 1937-2013

EIEL

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 12/7/2013 at 20:02:14

Jack Eiel

LONGWOOD, FLORIDA - Jack Eiel, 76, of Longwood, passed away Thursday, November 14, 2013, following a brief battle with lung cancer. He died peacefully surrounded by his loving family.

Jack, who over the years was also known as John, Jackie, Sharpie, Dad, Gramps, The Weatherman and Captain Jack to his friends and family, was born in Osage, on November 3, 1937 to Dr. Merrill and Margaret Eiel. He graduated with a Bachelor Degree from Grinnell College and completed his Master Degree in Physiology from the State University of Iowa.

In 1959 Jack married the love of his life Lauren. Together they settled in Ridgewood, New Jersey where they lived for 35 years and raised their four children.

Jack spent his career as a self-employed business owner in medical equipment sales. In 2004 Jack and his wife retired to Longwood, Florida just in time for the hurricane season. They quickly made friends and became active in the Sanlando United Methodist Church. He served on the Wekiva Cove Homeowners Association as a director and was an active member of the South Seminole County Rotary Club.

Several years ago Jack became a boat captain at the Winter Parks Scenic Boat Tours where he enjoyed relating the history of Winter Park to travelers near and far. He also looked forward to and found great joy in volunteering for the past seven years at Camp Pioneer, a week long camping experience for adults with special needs.

Jack was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and fresh water fisherman. He cherished the family vacations on Lake George, New York, where his children and grandchildren would join him on his early morning fishing trips.

Jack is survived by his wife, Lauren; his sister Jean and husband Jim Peterson; his sister and brother-in-law Allie and Clark Gwinn, and their daughters Annie, Betsy and Cathy; along with his children: John, Meg and her husband George Morton and their children: Eric and Becca, Doug and his fiance Kelly Frey, Rick and his wife Debbie and their children: Tommy, Jack and Matthew.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Sanlando United Methodist Church in Longwood. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made in Jack's memory to Camp Pioneer at the Methodist Life Enrichment Center, 4991 Picciola Road Fruitland Park, FL 34731.

Mitchell County Press website, 7 DEC 2013