Obituary: Gerald ‘Jerry’ Norbert Frea

Gerald “Jerry” Norbert Frea, 77, of Jacksonport, passed away Friday morning, September 15, 2017 at Whispering Pines CBRF in Sturgeon Bay.

He was born April 13, 1940 in Sturgeon Bay, the son of Irving and Alice (Reinhard) Frea. He attended Saints Peter and Paul Catholic school and graduated from Sevastopol High School. On May 7, 1960, he married Sally Anschutz at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

In his earlier life, Jerry owned his own electrical and refrigeration business until he purchased the Roy C. Smith Depot which he operated until his injury in 1967.

Jerry volunteered much of his time at Saints Peter and Paul and St. Joseph Parishes with record keeping. He was one of five people who started the first credit union in Door County, now Capital Credit Union.

He enjoyed watching his children participate in their sporting events. The most important thing in Jerry’s life was his family. Jerry and Sally spent over 45 years on Clark Lake where they enjoyed sharing it with family and friends.

Jerry was a handyman. There wasn’t a job he couldn’t do or problem he could not solve. If anything needed fixing he could fix it. He also enjoyed working with computers and continuously reading, learning everything he could.

Jerry was always there for his family. Whenever the children needed advice on anything, like buying their first car, house, or how to fix something he was there to guide and teach them, supporting them in any way he could.

Jerry will be deeply missed by his wife, Sally, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage; four children, Dale (Mari) Frea of Libertyville, IL, Shelley (Tim) Meyers of Oshkosh, Mark (Kristina) Frea of Naples, FL, and Shari (Jacob) Gransee of Sister Bay; grandchildren, Jonathan, Caroline and Abigail Frea, Gavin and Grace Meyers, Kamryn Frea and Marin Gransee; sister, Irene (Roger) Vinz of Huntly, IL; brother, William (Laura) Frea of Marinette; sisters-in-law, Mary Frea, Betty Graf and Delores Anschutz; brother-in-law, Larry Anschutz; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Irving and Alice Frea; in-laws, Paul and Mabel Anschutz; brothers, Herbert and James Frea; brother-in-law, Roger Anschutz, Gerald Graf; and sister-in-law, Judy Anschutz.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Institute with Fr. Robert Stegmann as celebrant. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Family and friends may call at the church, Saturday morning, September 23, 2017, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass.

Memorials may be given in Jerry’s name for Saints Peter and Paul Parish or St. Joseph Parish.

The Frea family would like to thank Whispering Pines, AsceraCare Hospice, and SouthernCare Hospice for the wonderful care they provided to Jerry.

Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Gerald may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.