Jeff Joerg

Richard "Jeff" Joerg, 78 of Fremont passed away on May 19, 2026 at Valley View Health Campus, Fremont. He was born on June 20, 1947 to the late Richard A. and Kathryn (Albright) Joerg in North Tonawanda, NY.

Jeff graduated from Fremont Ross High School in 1965, and attended Bowling Green State University where he obtained a Bachelor of Education Degree in 1969.

After graduation, Jeff went on to teach at Fremont Junior High and also for a time at Riley school where he taught Ohio History over a 30 year career. He also taught Government during summer school at Ross High for many years. Jeff was the Student Council Advisor at the Jr. High for many years as well. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching them about governance, attending Student Council State Conferences with them and sponsoring countless Jr High dances. Jeff continued in his love of education as an adjunct faculty member at Terra State Community College where he taught political science for many years. After he retired from Fremont City Schools his golf partner Russ “made him an offer he couldn’t refuse” and he went to work as an agent for Welty Financial Services where he has worked for the past 17 years.

His pride and joy were his students, where he focused on bringing life to historical moments and demonstrating how history has a massive impact on today’s world. Seeing students years later around town and hearing from them about their own lives’ ups and downs always brought a smile to Jeff’s face. Jeff’s love of history and teaching permeated everything he did. He often said he wanted to be remembered this way - “Say what you want about the man but by God the man could teach”.

Jeff was a lifelong avid golfer and enjoyed the time he spent at River Cliff and Sycamore over the years. Earlier in his life, Jeff owned and operated the Golf Shoppe at Thornwood and later River Cliff Golf Course. The memories and the friends he made at Fremont’s local golf courses were some of his most treasured experiences, as there was hardly a Sunday morning when Jeff wasn’t at a golf course spending time with his friends.

Jeff served for many years on the Terra College Foundation board and was currently the Vice- Chairman. He also coached junior high football for Fremont City Schools, where he coached 14 Fremont Ross Athletic Hall of Fame athletes and never had a losing season over eight years. Jeff himself was inducted into the Fremont Ross Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025.

On December 27, 1991, Jeff married Melissa Frizzell and together they have shared over 34 years of love and memories. He taught her golf and she taught him to get on an airplane to travel to see new sights and together they shared their passions with Robert.

If there is one attribute of Jeff that he would want anyone reading this to remember, and to incorporate more into their own lives, it’s that being kind to a stranger on the street or reaching out to a friend you haven’t spoken to in years are the small actions that will make our community a better place.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Melissa; children, Jodie (Steve) Joerg-Andreoli of Gahanna, Lorie (Terry) Bricker of South Vienna; and Robert Joerg of Ann Arbor, MI; and grandchildren, Andrew (Olivia) Bricker, Alec Bricker and Austen Andreoli.

Jeff is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Kathryn.

Visitation for Jeff will be held on Saturday, May 30 from 10:00AM-1:00PM at the Herman-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Crematory, Fremont, followed by funeral services beginning at 1:00PM.

Donations in Jeff's name may be made to the Terra College Foundation.

Herman-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Crematory, Fremont is honored to be assisting the Joerg family during this difficult time.