Carl M. Frimel's Obituary
Carl Michael Frimel, 82, of Independence passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on March 28, 2023. He was born June 5, 1940 to the late Edward Joseph Frimel and Mary (Gudz) Frimel in Cleveland, Ohio.
Carl was a graduate of Independence High School class of 1958. He attended Ohio State University and proudly served in the United States Navy from 1961-1965 at the Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida. There he met his bride of 37 years Dorothy Mae Heath of New Bern, North Carolina. Together they raised five children.
In 1966, Carl returned to Ohio to rejoin the Independence Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter. He then went on to enjoy a long full-time career with the department until he retired as Fire Chief in 1993. To this day, local residents of Independence refer to him as “Chief”.
In his retirement, Carl enjoyed walking, cooking and spoiling his beloved Labrador retrievers Alpha and Cola. He was proud of his Slovak and Ukrainian heritage and passed on his love for old world Eastern European dishes to his children and grandchildren.
Those who remember him recall him serving the local community and military veterans whole-heartedly. He was an active member of the American Legion Post 196 in Brecksville and was often found bragging about his son Joseph (Special Forces Green Beret Master Sergeant) and grandson Michael (Veteran of the U.S. Air Force).
Carl was preceded in death by both his parents, his wife Dorothy (1999); well-loved grandparents Julia (Jachyshyn) Gudz and Michael Gudz of Hlibiv, Ukraine; his beloved first cousin Margaret (Baron) MacAuley. He is survived by his first cousin Gayle (Baron) Cinke, his daughters Eileen (James), Yvette (Richard), Adrienne, Audrey and son, Joseph (Leah). He was a proud grandfather of ten grandchildren: Michael, Nathaniel, Bryan, Shannon, Christopher, Tyler, Hannah, Madelyn, Joseph, Maebree and great-grandson Aiden.
There will be a small service at Chatham Cemetery in Medina County for immediate family members only. A celebration of life memorial will be scheduled sometime in May. The family asks that In lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Samaritan’s Purse www.samaritanspurse.org
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