Filmmakers

Jerry Stimpfle Obituary (01/28/1939 --10/27/2023)

Born in Columbus, Ohio, to Clair and Juanita Stimpfle on January 28th, 1939, Jerry was raised in Upper Sandusky and graduated from Upper Sandusky High School in 1957 before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He served in Germany as a Czech Language Transcriber for 27 months before returning to Ohio to receive his degree in Communications at Ohio State University in 1969.

Following his graduation, Jerry worked at the University of Mississippi photographing, editing, and directing a number of films, including “They Sing of A Heaven,” a documentary which won first place at the Mississippi Arts Festival in 1972. Jerry went on to become the Senior Cinematographer at Michigan State University’s Instructional Film and Multimedia Production. Throughout his time at both the University of Mississippi and Michigan State University, Jerry belonged to the University Film Association.

Following Jerry’s filmmaking, he turned his focus to growing and selling specialty produce like heirloom apples, shallots, rhubarb, and gooseberries. Jerry also loved umpiring fastpitch softball throughout mid-Michigan, amateur astronomy (building his own telescope), cars, planting oak trees, trains, blues and jazz music, film noir, and his cats. He excelled in contract bridge and was a member of the Lansing Bridge Club, becoming a Silver Life Master and playing in ACBL national tournaments.

Preceding Jerry in passing are his parents, Clair and Juanita Stimpfle. Surviving Jerry are his wife of 48 years, Susan; his sister, Nedra; and his daughter, Susan Baker.

Memorial contributions can be made in Jerry’s name to Mid-Michigan Land Conservancy at http://www.midmilandcons.org/index.php/membership-donations