Jerry Pinney

Jerry Carlisle Pinney, 82, of Largo, Fl, passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025.

He shared the last 30 years of his life with Terri Gierke as a beloved husband, friend and partner.

He was the devoted and loving son of Wilbur and Mildred Pinney, brother of James A (Carolyn) Pinney, Janet (Pat) Williams Skauge, who all preceded him in death.

He was an adoring father to Katherine (Henry) Olguin, David (Melissa) Pinney, Regina (Carrie) Pinney, Steve (Carlos) Gierke, and Ashley (Cedric) Gierke. He cherished his eight grandchildren Jamie Hastings, Michelle Tuss, Nicholas Funkhouser, Kyle Pinney, Michael Funkhouser, Christine Pinney, Alina Guerin, and Bram Guerin and was so proud of his two great-grandchildren, Kevin and Jackson. He was also an adored uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Jerry was a midwestern kid, born in South Bend, IN. He was a paperboy and a very proud Eagle Scout. The lessons learned from these experiences were carried and shared broadly.

He spent over three decades in the food industry, starting at Jewel Food Stores while yet in high school. After college, Jerry began a long career with IGA. This included working for three IGA wholesalers and ten years as Vice-President of Marketing for IGA Staff Office in Chicago. In addition, Jerry has served as Vice-President of Membership for the National Grocers Association, Sr. Vice President of Procurement for Shurfine and the Managing Director of The Zenon Hansen Foundation.

He found his true calling after he retired from the corporate world as a Personal and Executive Coach. His practice spanned over 20 years, multiple continents and he enriched the lives of hundreds of individuals, helping them become better leaders, managers and humans. He loved people, and he especially loved helping people see their own potential and sharing the library of tools and resources he had collected.

His favorite coaching lessons were: No is a complete sentence; If you aren't getting the information you want, ask a better question; Hire slow, fire fast; If you can't change the people, change the people; and What are the conversations you aren't having and why? His go to books were Fierce Conversations, Five Dysfunctions of a Team, and Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Jerry was a servant leader and contributed his time, talent and energy to several nonprofits, serving on a number of boards of directors including: The Advisory and Development Board of the Parkside Pastoral Counseling Center, The Maine Township Center for Addiction, The Human Services Advisory Commission of the City of Des Plaines, The International Dairy, Deli-Bakery Association and The Horizons Children's Academy.

He loved to cook, entertain, have deep conversations, go to the theatre, travel, spend time with family and friends, and share beautiful experiences with anyone who was up for it.

Jerry was diagnosed with dementia in 2019 and spent the past two years in skilled nursing care. The cruelty of this disease took away his ability to speak and his opportunities to ask good questions. His children wish to extend deep appreciation to Terri, the love of his life, for her steadfast devotion to his care and dignity. Per his wishes, the family will gather to spread his ashes in Stanley, Idaho, one of his favorite places.

No services are planned, however, if you wish to honor his life and legacy, do an act of service for another, sit on a bench and watch people, donate to your favorite charity or one of his: Pulaski Users Group (Stanley, ID), The John George Home (Jackson, MI) or Nonprofit Network (Jackson, MI).

He was loved big and will be missed. He was a great man, and his family hopes that because of the impact he had on so very many, he left the world a better, happier and greater place.