Jesse H. Christal

July 2, 1941 – January 20, 2025

After battling Pancreatic cancer for the past year and spending his last week in the Hospice House of the Treasure Coast, Dad is able to rest in peace. Dana Christal, Greg Christal, Christine Kilhoffer Knowles, Rodney Christal and I (Jesse Christal) want to thank him for a lifetime of Christmas memories, family vacations, and the enormous amount of time he spent making sure he made it to every band concert, swim meet, school play, PTA meeting, and, along with his overall support, love, and comedic relief he provided for us all. However short, it was a journey none of us will forget! He will remain, Forever in our hearts.

Born in Buda, Texas in 1941, Jesse was one of 5 kids born to Jesse and Annie Christal. He left the family farm in 1959 to join the US Air Force. He was stationed at the KI Sawyer Air Force Base in Marquette, MI until 1963. He fondly remembered walking out of the Air Base in January with 12 feet of snow on the ground to return to the Houston area.

Jesse met his wife, Dana, at work and they were inseparable for over 59 years. They moved to the Suburbs of Oklahoma City where they lived for 35 years and raised 5 kids while he worked as a traveling Salesman for Hershey Chocolate and later the General Foods Corporation. He and Dana were small business owners and he was a local City Councilman. Jesse also had 5 grandkids and 2 great grandchildren, and they all loved their "Granddaddy"! He was the only one who put "calf slobber" in their hot cocoa! (whipped cream). Their Granddaddy was a bigger than life character and legend in their eyes.

Jesse enjoyed scuba diving in the Caribbean during his down time. And, he also was an avid sky diver and had over 300 jumps and enjoyed it "just for the fun of it".

Jesse and Dana moved to Sebastian, FL in 2016 and he could be seen smoking his pipe or cigar and holding court in his porch swing, sitting next to his beloved wife and telling his stories that we will never forget!