Social media influencer Jeri Wirtz has passed away at 74 following a nine-year fight with stage 4 breast cancer. The news was shared on her joint Instagram account with husband Mike, revealing she died peacefully at home on Dec. 6 surrounded by family.
Hold onto your feeds, darlings— the influencer world just lost a trailblazer. Jeri Wirtz, known for her raw and real online presence, slipped away on Dec. 6 at the age of 74, after battling stage 4 breast cancer for nine long years. The heartbreaking update came straight from the 'Jeri & Mike' Instagram account she shared with her husband of 47 years, Mike Wirtz, who confirmed she passed peacefully at home, enveloped by her loving family. 😢
Jeri's health had taken a sharp turn for the worse recently. A hospital stay failed to turn things around, leading to in-home hospice care just last week. But let's rewind— Jeri wasn't always the cancer warrior we knew online. She and Mike first connected back in 1976, dated for a year, and sealed the deal with marriage, building a beautiful blended family along the way. Their two kids, Nicole and Ryan, have given them three adorable grandchildren.
It was in 2020 that Jeri truly burst onto social media, pulling back the curtain on their interracial love story and, later, the brutal ups and downs of her cancer journey. She kept it 100, sharing the highs of treatment wins and the lows of setbacks, inspiring countless followers with her unfiltered honesty. No sugarcoating, just straight tea on living life fully amid the chaos.
Jeri's openness turned her into more than an influencer— she was a beacon for those facing similar fights. As her family mourns, we're left reflecting on a love that spanned decades and a spirit that lit up screens. Rest in power, Jeri— you've left us all a little wiser and a lot more grateful. 💔