Jeremiah Christopher Frenz

Jeremiah Christopher Frenz was born in Portland, Oregon on January 9, 1994, to Kim and Susan Frenz. Growing up in greater Portland, Jeremy was homeschooled and as an athletic child he played soccer and baseball (with his dad being his coach), as well as following in his sister's footsteps training with Olympic Pair Skaters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Deciding to leave Colorado Jeremy returned to Portland to attend Grant High School. At Grant Jeremy became a district wrestling champion while also playing Junior Varsity and Varsity football.

At age 18 Jeremy headed to Southern California where he attended The Master's University, receiving a BA in Biblical Studies. Upon graduation Jeremy returned to Portland to attend Portland Community College where he earned his Paramedic degree. Soon thereafter he was accepted into the Eugene Springfield Fire Recruit Academy, graduating on June 29, 2018. In2020 Jeremy moved to the Vancouver Fire Department where he had served since.

Jeremy was baptized into the Christian Faith at Zion Lutheran, Camas Washington, the church his father pastored. He was the first child born into a Zion Pastor's family since the 1960's. Jeremy had a deep and abiding faith. He had long conversations with his mom, college professors, pastors, and friends about various matters regarding his faith and doctrines of the church. Jeremy was involved in various youth programs and for a time thought about becoming a Youth Pastor. He had interned as a youth minister and volunteered to serve on youth ministry staffs. Instead, God had other plans for using Jeremy's gifts.

Jeremy had a dynamic personality, a beautiful smile, a ready laugh, and a heart for service. He also had an adventurous spirit, having rafted the Colorado river through the entire length of the Grand Canyon with his family, riding his motorcycle with friend Abe on a 3 ½ month trip to the tip of South America, venturing to Australia and New Zealand on a one-month trip with his father, and traveling the world either alone or with his sister. He took pride in having ventured into every continent on earth. Jeremy also made multiple trips with college friends, other firefighters, and friends he met from around the world.

As a firefighter he gave it his all. It was more than a career. It was a calling. Upon graduation from the Eugene Springfield Fire Department an instructor said of Jeremy, "He wasn't your typical Firefighter. He was brain, brawn and heart." The instructor thought to himself, 'Either everything is hidden or he has that big of a heart.'

Jeremy was loved by so many and we mourn his passing. He is survived by his mother (Susan Hanawalt Frenz), father (Kim Scott Frenz and Kim's special friend Debby Barbo), sister (Alexis Katherine Frenz), brother and sister-in-law (Brandon Michael Frenz and Jaclyn Portanova Frenz) and their daughter (Madelyn Portanova Frenz), along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

A service for Jeremy is scheduled for January 23, 2pm at Northwest Gospel Church, Eastside: 305 NE 192nd Ave, Vancouver, Washington. We encourage all donations made to the Jeremiah Frenz Support Fund, Local 452 Support.