Gunter Zierfuss

Gunter Zierfuss was born May 30, 1940 in Jena, Germany. After a tough childhood in post war torn Eastern Germany, he was looking for an escape, so he joined the German Merchant Marine at age 14. He sailed on a school ship and many other merchant vessels travelling the world as a young seaman. During a period as crew with the Tide Water Oil Company, he met who would become his wife, Margaret Tills of Deal England, on a weekend leave in Gibraltar, Spain. The two fell in love and would stay in touch writing letters as Gunter continued to crew merchant vessels. In 1960 Gunter immigrated to Canada and then to America. To ease the path to citizenship he joined the Army in 1963. He received an honorable discharge in 1965. After another year on a research vessel in the Indian Ocean he returned to Long Island, New York to reunite with his fiancé, Margaret. Maggie had emigrated from England and was working in Long Island as an au pair for a young family. The two married in 1966. Gunter worked for British Overseas Airways, currently British Airways, in the cargo department out of LaGuardia Airport for a few years. While working with the airline, Gunter was also working as an apprentice to an older German painter who had taken him under his wing. He soon started his own painting company on the North Shore of Long Island, Gunter Zierfuss Painting and Decorating. Over the next 15 years he established himself as one of the premier painting contractors in Long Island. In 1980 the now family of four made a move to Rock Hall, Maryland. Maggie wanted a slower pace, and a more rural lifestyle to raise the family. Gunter continued to run his business in New York, commuting Sunday night through Thursday up north and the weekends home in Rock Hall. After a few years he had created the relationships needed and sold the New York branch of the business and started the business full-time in Maryland. Gunter always had a love for boating and maintained a "fleet" of random sailing and motorized vessels. At any given time having at least one large enough for weekend family trips to Annapolis and other Chesapeake Bay destinations. It was during this time that Gunter discovered the Intercoastal Waterway and started travelling where he met many people. Gunter also enjoyed buying and selling real estate which helped supplement the wonderful life that the Zierfuss family enjoyed. In 1994 Gunter and Maggie moved full time to their second home in St. Augustine Florida. While investing in real estate and becoming a real estate agent, Gunter continued to paint in Florida and would still take on projects for old customers in New York during the summer to make his "Winter Money". Sadly Maggie, his beloved wife of 42 years passed away in 2008. Gunter moved from St. Augustine to Jacksonville Beach in 2010. Always the spirited "German", he formed many lasting friendships along the way. His passion for boating was a constant driving force in his life. He traveled the inland waterways—from South Florida to Connecticut, and everywhere in between—more than 25 times aboard his various trawlers and sailboats. He continued his active lifestyle of boating, travelling and trailering various trailers and/or boats back and forth, DIRECT car trips from Jax beach to Maryland, He maintained a seat at a long time Chestertown poker game and enjoyed a couple more in Florida. Gunter also joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary as a volunteer cook at the age of 77 serving for five years. He was blessed to have been able to visit Europe and his family in the summer of 2025. Gunter passed away in his home in Jacksonville Beach surrounded by loving friends and family March 8, 2026. Gunter leaves behind an incredible legacy of an adventurous spirit, an unmatched work ethic, and ambitious perseverance. He was a devoted husband to Maggie, a loving Father to his sons, and a cherished Opa to his three grandchildren. Gunter Zierfuss is survived by his oldest son Kurt, his youngest son Karl, and wife, Erin and their three children, Mackie, Tills, and Bo. Gunter was a passionate patriot, who loved this country and the opportunities that were awarded to him.

Gunter Zierfuss

May 30, 1940 - March 8, 2026