Jerry Frimmel, age 70, of Venice, Florida, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family on December 19, 2025. His overflowing, joyous spirit will be profoundly missed and cherished. Jerry lived a full and humble life serving the Lord, his family, and his faith community. He was a blessing to those who got to know his larger-than-life heart, contagious smile, one-of-a-kind personality, and his superpower ability to connect with anyone, all with his wholehearted kindness.

He was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and grew up in New Jersey. He got his Bachelors at Berry College (Georgia), which was a very special place to him as it was where he learned about Jesus and received the gift of salvation. Berry College was also where he got a half-ride scholarship playing tennis and where he enjoyed vacationing with his family to show them its beautiful, deer-grazing campus. He earned his Masters in Divinity at Liberty University (Virginia), which was also during a time when his dad passed away in his mid-fifties, his mom would also pass away in her fifties not long after. 

Back in New Jersey, he managed the Homeless Shelter Food Services Program at Volunteers of America, which is where he met his wife LuAnn, a counselor with inmates in the corrections division.

They married in 1986, and in 1988, they moved down to Venice, Florida with their first born son, Zach.

Venice was a place Jerry’s parents loved and where his sister, Mary Beth, and brother-in-law resided.

Later in 1994, their second son Jesse was born. From 1989-1999, Jerry was the Social Services Director at Village on The Isle working for the nursing home division.

All this prepared him for his life’s work training students for eternity as the principal of Venice Christian School for 25 years (2000-2025) where his legacy and leadership will always live on. He and the school were so blessed by the generations of staff, students, and families that all helped build the school up to its full potential. 

As a dedicated principal, a supportive husband, and outstanding dad, he positively impacted countless lives. He was, and always will be, an overflowing, spiritual fountain of life, strength, love, humor, and inspiration for his family and loved ones. The ripples of his life’s work will be seen and felt for generations by those who were blessed to know him as he also felt blessed by those he had the chance to know. Jerry was one of the funniest people in any room, he brought out the best in people, and he always encouraged his sons and others to love the Lord. He loved his wife, who was his faithful encourager and caretaker through it all, someone who also shared his passion and dedication for education as a teacher at Venice High School. 

Jerry enjoyed the simple pleasures in life: planting trees, the rain (especially when he prayed for it), his dogs, rocking out on the drums, and listening to music on his stereo. He enjoyed the smell of the salty air by the ocean, the sound of the waves breaking on the Jersey shore, cooking for people as a love language, and reminiscing about New Jersey with his sister during family gatherings at home. 

As Jerry’s health declined, and he had to step away as principal in 2025, he knew the Lord had put in place a strong foundation at Venice Christian School to enable it to continue its mission of training students to know and live by God's Word. He was also very blessed and thankful for the dozens of faith-filled friends who brought him to doctor’s appointments, sent meals, cared for his lawn, helped his wife at work, visited him in the hospital, and filled in every gap they saw for the Frimmel family during the last seven months and beyond.

Jerry is survived by his two sons, Zach Frimmel (Seattle), 37, and Jesse Frimmel (Nashville) 31, his daughter-in-law Kristjana Manco-Frimmel, his sisters, Mary Beth Cuccia and Kathleen Ann Mountney, and his brother-in-laws Russ Cuccia and Craig Mountney. He is survived by his dearly devoted wife of 39 years, LuAnn Frimmel.

Jerry’s Celebration of Life will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 31, at The Bridge Church (2410 N River Rd, Venice, FL 34292). Look for the blue sign to find the entrance. 

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made in Jerry’s memory to Venice Christian School or The Bridge Church.