Obituary: Lion Ed Jagiela - Veteran of District 25-G Eyeglass Missions

[PDG Paul Russell]

Edward Anthony Jagiela

Edward Anthony Jagiela, 77, of Orlando, Florida, passed away on April 17, 2026.
Edward was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and later moved to Gary, Indiana, where he graduated from Lew Wallace High School in 1967. Ed married his high school sweetheart, Joann Hallett, in 1969. They went on to raise their family in Merrillville, Indiana, where many laughs were shared and lasting memories were made on Jennings Place. They later moved to Orlando, Florida.    

Ed was a deeply generous man who transformed his own struggles into hope for others. As a corneal transplant recipient, he became a passionate advocate for organ and tissue donation and generously gave his time to The Gift of Hope. For years he was a trustee for the Indiana Lions Eye and Tissue Bank, as it was called then.

Ed was actively involved with the Griffith Lions Club and participated in numerous mission trips to Mexico, where he helped provide eyeglasses to those less fortunate—giving countless people the gift of sight. During his mission trips, he was an expert adjuster, able to fit, adjust and repair broken or damaged eyeglasses, even though he had limited sight in only one eye!

Committed to supporting others on similar journeys, Ed founded the New Beginnings Organ and Tissue Transplant Support Group, offering encouragement, understanding, and community to transplant recipients and their families.
Ed worked as a butcher for 18 years before beginning a long career at Ford Motor Company as an assembly line worker. A tireless provider, Ed was known for his strong work ethic and integrity. He never took shortcuts, always doing what was necessary to ensure his family was cared for and secure.

Ed was endlessly proud of his daughters and grandchildren. A stranger was never a stranger for long before Ed was sharing stories of his family and the joyful times they spent together. No matter how tired he may have been, Ed was always present for his family, giving them his time, attention, and love without hesitation.

He brought immense joy to those around him, and he will be greatly missed. His physical heart may have given out, but his love for his family will be forever…Forever our Pumpkin King!